Kochi, 18 March (H.S.):Hotels and restaurants across Kerala have announced a statewide shutdown on March 23, protesting an acute shortage of commercial LPG that has severely disrupted operations in the hospitality sector. The Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA) said the decision was taken during a state executive meeting held on Tuesday.

In a statement, KHRA demanded that hotels be recognised as an essential service and ensured uninterrupted LPG supply. The association alleged that oil companies were failing to supply cylinders to hotels as they are not included in the priority category, worsening the crisis.

The association also accused private suppliers of exploiting the shortage by sharply increasing LPG prices, pushing many small and medium establishments to the brink of closure. According to KHRA president G. Jayapal, nearly 20 per cent of eateries had already shut down as of March 12, and if the situation continues, up to 40 per cent of restaurants in the state could be forced to close.

Criticising both the state and central governments, KHRA said the issue has been ignored despite affecting lakhs of people dependent on the sector for livelihood and daily food access.

As part of the agitation, the association will organise a protest march to LPG bottling plants on March 19, demanding immediate intervention, inclusion in the priority supply category, and fair pricing.

The LPG shortage has also hit Kerala’s catering industry at a crucial time, coinciding with the peak wedding season. Industry representatives said caterers are struggling to honour bookings made for functions during the Malayalam month of Medam, as well as upcoming weddings after Ramzan and Lent.

Hostels and institutions with mess facilities have also been affected, highlighting the wider impact of the crisis across sectors reliant on commercial cooking fuel.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman