PANAJI
Amid growing apprehension among stakeholders over a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, with some warning of possible shutdowns, the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa alerted an emerging crisis in the supply of cooking gas, cautioning that restaurants, beach shacks and catering services across the state could be forced to halt operations if the situation worsens in the coming weeks.
In a letter to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday, the TTAG said disruptions in global energy supply chains triggered by tensions in West Asia have already begun affecting the availability of commercial LPG cylinders used widely across the hospitality sector.
“With the West Asia conflict disrupting energy supply chains, the hospitality and restaurant sector in India is grappling with a growing shortage of commercial LPG supply,” TTAG Executive Secretary Amey Naik said in the letter, a copy of which is also marked to Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte and GSIDC Chairman Michael Lobo.
It added that government measures to temporarily prioritise cooking gas supplies for high-priority sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions could worsen the situation for the tourism industry.
The body warned that many food and beverage establishments could be forced to suspend operations if supplies do not stabilise. “The majority of restaurants, beach shacks and catering services rely on LPG for their businesses,” it said, adding that a stockpile lasting around 25 days may not be enough if the disruption continues.
TTAG also cautioned that the fallout would extend beyond restaurants and hotels as a prolonged shortage could trigger wider economic disruption in Goa, affecting ancillary businesses tied to tourism.
As such, the association urged the State government to intervene urgently by ensuring the continuous availability of commercial LPG cylinders for hospitality establishments and initiating dialogue with the Centre and suppliers to stabilise supplies.
It also called on the government to prioritise the issue and convene a stakeholder meeting to formulate a contingency plan, while directing officials to monitor the situation closely and prevent diversion of cylinders to the black market through stricter district-wise enforcement.
