LPG shortage: Mysuru hoteliers ready to pay any price for a cylinder, but none is available

Hoteliers in Mysuru are staring at an imminent crisis in view of the disruption in supply of commercial Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders in the city.

President of Hotel Owners’ Association of Mysuru Narayanagowda C. said the impact of the disruption in delivery of commercial LPG cylinders is expected to be felt by hotels and restaurants in Mysuru in the next two days.

“The hotel industry in Mysuru will have to shut down in the coming one or two days. If not fully, at least 50% of the hotels will not be able to operate due to disruption in supply of commercial LPG cylinders,” he said referring to the reported suspension in delivery of cylinders by one of the three oil manufacturing companies in Mysuru.

The distributors in Mysuru are unable to supply commercial cylinders as they are not receiving the same from oil manufacturing companies due to the ongoing military hostilities between Israel and US on one side and Iran on the other, he said.

Mr Narayanagowda even pointed out that the price of a cylinder had been increased by more than ₹300 since March 1. Even if the hoteliers pay the increased price, the LPG cylinders are not available, he lamented.

No hotelier in Mysuru will be able to shift to wood or other alternative fuels that had been discontinued more than 40 years ago. If the disruption prolongs, uncertainty will grip the hotel industry, which not only feeds thousands of people, including students and tourists, but also employs 25,000 persons in Mysuru.

Mr Narayanagowda said Mysuru has an estimated 1,500 hotels, restaurants, fast food outlets, tea stalls and other eateries that rely on commercial LPG for their operations.

The Hotel Owners’ Association in Mysuru has written a letter to Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri seeking clarity and assurance for the restaurant and hospitality industry with regard to the recent Government Order prioritising LPG production for domestic consumption.

“Restaurants, hotels and food service establishments are an essential part of the urban economy, and rely heavily on commercial LPG to operate safely and efficiently. Unlike many other sectors, most commercial kitchens do not yet have viable and immediate alternatives, such as PNG or electric cooking systems. Any disruption in LPG supply can directly impact daily operations, employment, and access to food for consumers,” Mr. Narayanagowda and Association Secretary Ravindra Bhat stated in the letter to Mr. Puri.

Further, the association, in the letter, has requested Oil Marketing Companies to ensure that distributors continue servicing commercial establishments without interruption.