PANAJI: A deepening shortage of commercial LPG cylinders has triggered alarm among hoteliers and restaurant owners in South Goa, who have warned of imminent shutdowns, causing a severe blow to the state’s tourism economy if supplies are not restored immediately.
Around 50 members of the South Goa Hotel Association gathered in Margao today to press for urgent government intervention, citing a “war-like global situation” that has disrupted fuel supply chains and left businesses struggling to stay afloat.
Association president Deepak Ramesh Pai described the crisis as critical. While expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for maintaining stability amid global tensions, Pai said the ground reality for Goa’s hospitality sector is grim. “We are among the biggest contributors to tourism, yet we are suffering terribly due to the shortage of commercial LPG,” he said.
Hoteliers pointed out that despite Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s assurance in the Assembly that 20% allocation of commercial LPG would be ensured, the actual supply remains negligible.
Mahendra Shetye, a hotel owner from Margao, said availability is not even 0.5%, making it impossible to sustain operations. “How do we manage expenses? Our hotels are entirely dependent on LPG. We have to feed labourers and pay salaries,” he said.
The shortage has forced many establishments to scale down operations, with some running at barely 50% capacity. “We are opening and shutting depending on gas availability. Without LPG, work stops, and labourers refuse to work,” Shetye added.
Several hoteliers claimed they have not received even a single cylinder since March 10. Some said officials visited their premises for inspections and documentation, but no supplies followed. “We have tourists staying with us, two or three stoves in place, but no gas to cook food. We are managing with temporary arrangements, but this cannot continue,” said a hotelier.
The association also highlighted that earlier restrictions capping commercial LPG supply at 50% had already weakened the sector, and the current crisis has pushed many businesses to the edge.
Calling it a question of survival, members said the ripple effect is being felt beyond hotels, impacting daily wage earners, labourers, and factory workers who depend on eateries for affordable meals.
“If hotels shut down, the impact will be widespread. Many people rely on us for their daily food,” a member said.
The association has demanded that the government create a dedicated supply mechanism for commercial LPG, similar to domestic distribution, and ensure at least one cylinder per hotel per day.
Warning of a cascading crisis, hoteliers said continued inaction could severely damage Goa’s tourism sector, already under strain due to the ongoing supply disruption.
