Shack owners send SOS to CM, Tourism minister over shortage of LPG cylinders

MARGAO

Shack owners have on Wednesday sent an SOS to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte seeking urgent intervention with the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to ensure a dedicated quota of commercial LPG for Goa’s hospitality sector.

President of the Shack Owners Welfare Society Cruz Cardozo drew attention of the Chief Minister to the imminent crisis that threatens the very survival of the shack businesses and the livelihoods of thousands of families dependent on the business.

He said most shacks will be forced to shut down operations within a day or two if the supply is not restored immediately. A couple of shacks along the Salcete stretch, which have run out of LPG, may be the first to shut down operations.

Referring to the severe disruption in the supply of commercial LPG cylinders across the state over the last few days, the Shack Owners Society said the shortage, reportedly following the recent central directive to prioritize domestic supply due to global energy constraints, has hit the hospitality sector—and specifically the shack industry—with devastating force.

Terming the situation as critical, Cardozo said the shack business is heading towards imminent closure, with most shacks currently having less than 24 hours of gas reserves. If the supply is not restored immediately, we will be forced to shut down operations within the next day or two, he said.

Saying the situation will have an impact on Tourism, Cardozo said “As we are in the peak of the season, the closure of shacks will leave tourists with no dining options on the beaches, severely damaging Goa’s reputation as a world-class hospitality destination”.

He said a shutdown would result in immediate loss of wages for our staff and seasonal workers who rely entirely on this period for their annual income. 

“While we understand the complexities of the global energy situation, the shack industry is the backbone of Goa's coastal economy. We cannot operate without a steady, regulated supply of commercial fuel”, Cardozo added.

Besides seeking intervention with the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to ensure a dedicated quota of commercial LPG for Goa’s hospitality sector, the shack owners have sought coordination with local gas distributors to prioritize supply to seasonal businesses that have no alternate fuel infrastructure.