PANAJI
The shortage of commercial LPG has pushed Goa’s tourism and hospitality sector towards an accelerated transition to piped natural gas (PNG), with the State government warning stakeholders to act immediately to avoid further disruption to operations.
At a high-level meeting convened by the Department of Tourism, officials made it clear that restaurants, beach shacks and allied businesses reliant on LPG must shift to PNG in line with Central government directives, positioning the move as both a necessity and a long-term fix to recurring supply instability.
The meeting, chaired by Tourism Commissioner and Secretary Sandip Jacques and Civil Supplies Secretary Sanjiv Gadkar, brought together oil and gas companies, PNG providers, and representatives of tourism and restaurant bodies to address the growing crisis.
Industry stakeholders flagged that erratic LPG supply has already begun affecting day-to-day operations across the state’s tourism belt, raising concerns ahead of key travel periods. The government, while acknowledging the strain, stressed that the solution lies in expediting PNG adoption rather than relying on inconsistent LPG supply chains. “...In line with directives from the Central Government, commercial establishments currently dependent on LPG must transition to PNG to ensure a more stable and scalable energy supply ecosystem,” the officials said.
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said the transition was central to building “reliable and future-ready infrastructure” for the sector, adding that the government will work closely with stakeholders to ensure a smooth shift.
Jacques further stated that transition cannot move forward without active participation from businesses, noting that delays in applications for PNG connections were slowing implementation. He called on stakeholders to immediately begin the process, describing PNG as essential for ensuring uninterrupted supply and long-term sustainability.
Participants also raised concerns over delays in PNG connections, gaps in infrastructure readiness and operational bottlenecks. Officials said steps were being taken to streamline approvals and speed up rollout.
The department maintained that resolving the crisis will require coordinated action from both suppliers and end-users, even as it reiterated its commitment to protecting the interests of the tourism sector while enforcing the broader energy transition.
