Hotel bodies seek urgent govt action amid LPG shortage in AP

Vijayawada: In view of the ongoing commercial LPG cylinder shortage, which severely impacted the hotel and tourism sectors in the state, the AP Star Hotels Association (ASHA) and the Hotels Association Joint Action Committee (JAC) on Friday met finance minister Payyavula Keshav and urged the govt to intervene immediately and ensure an adequate supply of commercial LPG cylinders for the smooth functioning of hotels.The delegation, led by ASHA president R V Swamy and Vijayawada Hotels Association president Ramana, submitted a representation highlighting the difficulties faced by hotels, restaurants, and catering establishments due to the limited availability of commercial gas cylinders.While welcoming the govt's decision to prioritise domestic LPG consumers, the representatives said commercial LPG remained essential for the day-to-day operations of hotels and restaurants. They requested the Finance minister to ensure that at least 50 per cent of LPG cylinders were allocated for commercial use to prevent the imminent closure of several establishments.The delegation also stressed that the hotel industry supported the livelihoods of thousands of people, including chefs, kitchen staff, suppliers, and transport operators. They warned that prolonged disruption in gas supply could severely affect employment in the hospitality sector.The representatives further pointed out that the crisis could disrupt services in major tourism centres such as Visakhapatnam, Araku Valley, Tirupati, Vijayawada, and Amaravati, where hotels played a crucial role in serving tourists and pilgrims.During the meeting, several alternatives were discussed to reduce gas consumption until the situation improved. One proposal suggested that hotels close operations by 10 pm, similar to restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic, while another option involved rotational operations, allowing different sets of hotels to function on alternate days.To further conserve gas, the finance minister also suggested that star hotels consider introducing a "limited menu" policy, reducing the number of dishes prepared daily.On the occasion, Keshav assured the delegation that he would take up the issue with the ministry of petroleum and natural gas. He further said that the matter would be discussed with chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and assured that he would address their concerns.