Thiruvananthapuram, March 10 A severe shortage of LPG cylinders, triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the resulting disruption in global fuel supplies, has begun to severely affect the hotel and restaurant industry in Kerala, forcing several eateries to halt operations.
Industry sources said LPG distribution to commercial establishments like hotels has almost come to a standstill in many parts of the state over the past few days.
While supplies were earlier restricted and provided only partially, the distribution of cylinders to hotels has now reportedly stopped in many areas, leaving operators struggling to continue their services.
Hotels and restaurants in Kerala consume multiple LPG cylinders, even up to 15 a day, depending on their size and scale of operations, industry sources said.
A busy, medium-scale hotel working round the clock in Kochi on Tuesday shifted their cooking partially to a traditional firewood stove due to the unexpected crisis.
"We cooked rice using the traditional firewood stove today. We could not close down the hotel all of a sudden as around 25 people are working here," its owner said.
He said they usually use up to five cylinders a day and no more cylinders are in their reserve now.
A hotel owner in Kozhikode said they would be forced to close down the hotel if the LPG scarcity prolongs.
"During the normal season, we need at least six cylinders daily. As it is the time of Ramadan fasting, we can manage with up to four cylinders. But, when we placed the order this morning, we were not getting even that number of cylinders," he said.
With supplies drying up and prices rising sharply, many establishments have been compelled to temporarily close their kitchens.
Representatives of the hotel sector said the crisis could soon turn into a larger social issue if the shortage continues.
Food availability at busy locations such as railway stations, bus stands and migrant worker hubs may be affected as eateries in these areas depend heavily on LPG for cooking, an office-bearer of the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA) said.
"The hotel industry in the state is facing an unprecedented crisis. Several hotels have already closed down due to the scarcity. The rest of them have stock only up to tomorrow," KHRA Ernakulam district working president Azeez Moosa said.
He said as per the information received from the LPG distributors, the refilling of commercial gas cylinders has been stopped at refineries due to the current crisis.
Another KHRA official said switching to firewood stoves is not at all practical for the majority of hotels in the state, as it does not suit their hygiene standards and norms.
"The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) informed us on Monday that the refilling of commercial cylinders has been stopped. But those institutions, coming under the essential service category, and households will not be impacted as per our knowledge," he said.
He said the association has already sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister, Petroleum Minister and Chief Minister seeking their immediate intervention in the matter.
Responding to the reports of crisis, state Civil Supplies Minister G R Anil said a meeting of industry stakeholders and officials concerned has already been convened by the state government in this regard.
"Kerala is a consumer state and therefore we requested the Centre to extend a special consideration to the hotel industry in the state in the distribution of LPG cylinders," he said.
The minister also warned of stringent action against hoarding of gas cylinders under the guise of scarcity.
Hoteliers also pointed out that the shortage comes in the wake of a recent increase in LPG prices, further adding to the financial burden on small and medium hotel operators already struggling with rising operational costs.