Indraprastha was an artificial city established without natural sources of fuel. It is heavily dependent on wood imports. The price of wood shoots up as the result of the demand from Indraprastha.
Yudhisthira tries to control wood prices and supplies by rationing. This does not work. A variety of draconian laws are passed to control consumption. A police force under Nakula and Sahadeva (who play a good-guy, bad-guy role) is established to enforce the new laws.
People try to leave the new kingdom. Y announces laws to limit emigration. This is contrary to traditional Aryan practice and he loses a lot of his support. Even the SoP and his friend Krishna desert him.
Hastinapur and the surrounding kingdoms declare their enmity to the new repressive policies of Indraprastha. However, they are not able to do anything since the SoP is still in sympathy with much of Y's policies. Also, the surrounding kingdoms are themselves suffering from fuel crises.
As a result of being surrounded by enemies, Indraprastha suffers from extreme inflation.
The cost of maintaining a closed kingdom is high. Internal dissension must be suppressed. The high inflation rate devalues people's efforts daily.
A series of nationwide famines due to the failure of the monsoons results in near bankruptcy. Y's population revolts. Y recklessly promises to quit (and take sanyas) if the fuel problem is not solved within a year.
Another year, another famine. The Pandavas are chased out. Hastinapur troops enter the city and Duryodhana is welcomed as a savior. The Pandavas vow to return and defeat Duryodhana and his allies.