MUMBAI: A lack of gas cylinders is hitting hotels across India hard.
After cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurants and hotels in Mumbai and Pune are facing a shortage of cooking gas cylinders due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. If the shortage continues, nearly 50 percent of hotels in Mumbai may be forced to shut down.
In Chennai, several hotels have begun reducing the number of dishes on their menus following the LPG shortage.
In Bengaluru also, hotels have reportedly trimmed their operations in the wake of cooking gas shortage.
Meanwhile, according to the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR), about 20 percent of hotels and restaurants have already been affected. Some establishments have either temporarily shut down or removed certain items from their menus in order to continue operating.
"We are currently managing with our previously stocked cooking gas cylinders. Once this additional stock gets exhausted, the real problem will begin for restaurants. At present, only 20 percent of hotels and restaurants are affected, but if the shortage of gas cylinders continues for a long time, nearly 50 percent of hotels may be forced to shut down. This would not be a good situation because it will have cascading effects on other industries and on people who depend on the hotel and restaurant industry. Therefore, the authorities need to find a solution as soon as possible," said a member of AHAR.
Ganesh Shetty, president of the Pune Hotel Association, said that if the government begins rationing the supply of cooking gas cylinders, restaurants will face serious challenges in maintaining their menus. He added that dosa will be one of the biggest casualties.
Facing the heat
"To prepare dosa, a continuous flame is required to maintain the heat of the iron plate, which means continuous consumption of gas. In such a situation, we may not be able to prepare dosa even though customers demand it the most. We will have to prepare food items that consume less gas. As a result, many dishes will have to be removed from menu cards by hotel owners. It will be a tough decision, but we may have little choice," Shetty said.
In Pune, local authorities have also shut down gas-based crematoriums due to the shortage of gas cylinders. Three gas-based crematoriums in the city will remain closed until further notice, while electric and wood-based crematoriums will continue to operate.
The Pune civic authorities stated that they received directives from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas banning the use of propene and butane for certain purposes. They also informed that the government's priority is to ensure the supply of LPG for domestic use.
Even the much-awaited Indian Premier League might face challenges.
While there is no sense of panic at the moment, IPL Governing Coucil Chairperson Dhumal said that the league is keeping a close eye on the developing situation.
"We are reviewing the development. Since this is a evolving situation, nothing can be said as of now. But given the requirement of the situation, we will take a call accordingly," Dhumal told The New Indian Express.
