The Coimbatore District Hoteliers’ Association has expressed concern that the ongoing shortage of commercial LPG cylinders affecting the hospitality sector may persist for an additional month. In a recent statement, the association called on the government to take immediate action to ensure a steady fuel supply for hotels and restaurants.

Operational Challenges for Local Restaurants

Balachandar Raju, Secretary of the Coimbatore District Hoteliers’ Association, highlighted the struggles faced by restaurants in the city due to the limited availability of LPG cylinders. He pointed out that this issue is not restricted to Tamil Nadu, asserting that the entire nation is grappling with the shortage. Raju remarked, “For the past 10-12 days, the whole nation has been facing LPG shortage issues, and our city is facing the same problem. We have no fuel to run the restaurant.”

Government Intervention Requested

The association has reached out to both state and central authorities, seeking their intervention in the matter. Raju emphasized that restaurants heavily depend on LPG cylinders for their daily operations. Reports from the authorities indicate that domestic supply and essential services currently have priority during this crisis.

Issues Caused by Global Disruptions

He further explained that global disruptions in supply due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia are contributing to the local LPG shortage. Raju warned that resolving the problem may extend beyond the immediate future, stating, “Even though the vessels start from the port now, it might take another 20 days to sail and reach our country. Then, there is a process of converting crude oil to LPG, which will take another week’s time. We expect to face this issue for another 30 days.”

Temporary Solutions Being Explored

While some eateries are investigating alternative cooking methods, Raju noted that these options are not sustainable in the long term. He stated, “We will not be able to run without LPG. For the time being, we are planning to cook with firewood, but we cannot run the entire operation this way. Immediate action needs to be taken by the government.”

Criticism of Government Response

Meanwhile, MH Jawahirullah, President of Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK), criticized the central government’s handling of the crisis. He claimed that rising LPG prices and supply shortages could lead to the closure of many hotels and restaurants. Jawahirullah said, “The Union Government said that we have enough stock of LPG, but they have hiked the price of domestic LPG gas by around Rs 60, and the prices of cylinders supplied to hotels and restaurants have also increased.”

Impact of Global Energy Disruptions

The current LPG shortage coincides with global energy supply challenges exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in West Asia. In response, the Union government has invoked the Essential Commodities Act to prioritize domestic LPG supply by reserving larger allocations for households, hospitals, and other essential services, limiting commercial distribution in various regions. Industry bodies have cautioned that unless supply stabilizes soon, the hospitality sector may undergo significant operational disruptions in the weeks ahead.

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