LPG crisis: Shortage of commercial gas hits more sectors in Kerala’s Kozhikode district

The shortage of commercial gas following the Iran war-induced regulations has started derailing the functioning of several small scale hotels in Kozhikode district of Kerala, apart from affecting the free-meals supply schemes. Hotel and restaurant operators say they are trying to meet the challenge using the traditional firewood kitchens and reducing the total production.

“About 40% of the total cooking work is now carried out using firewood. However, hotels which do not have such cooking options are on the verge of a temporary closure,” says Mohammed Suhail, a leading hotel entrepreneur and former functionary of the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association. He points out that many wayside eateries in Kozhikode district have already been shut, unable to find any temporary solution.

The free meals supply scheme run by various charity organisations are also on the verge of a temporary closure with the looming cooking gas crisis. Office-bearers of a city-based charity centre reveal that they are now finding it hard to proceed with the free food supply scheme depended on by over 400 people in Kozhikode city. Many such charity homes have no facilities to shift to the conventional mode of cooking for more than 100 people, they add.

Drivers who operate LPG-powered auto-rickshaws say they have been struggling to cope with the crisis for over two days. A.K. Sajeev Kumar, leader of LPG auto-rickshaw drivers union in Kozhikode city, laments that the situation will affect the service of over 1,000 auto-rickshaws in Kozhikode city soon. However, he confirms that the CNG-powered vehicles are yet to feel the heat of the present situation.

According to Corporation authorities, the usual booking procedure can be resumed at the two gas-powered crematoriums only after refilling the stock. Now, such requests are being diverted to the traditionally operated crematoriums in the city suburbs and rural areas, they confirm.

“The request submitted by the Corporation secretary to the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited has been considered with priority as per the response we received. However, there is no proper communication about the time of delivery and the sanctioned quantity,” says Health Inspector Satheesh Babu. He makes it clear that the booking service will not be available as usual until the delivery of the required stock by the fuel suppliers.