Srinagar, Mar 10: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCC&I) has sought urgent intervention from the Government of India to ensure immediate restoration of adequate supplies of commercial LPG cylinders to hotels, restaurants and catering establishments across Kashmir.
In a statement issued here, the Chamber expressed serious concern over the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders reported by stakeholders in the hospitality sector following a March 9 order issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas prioritising LPG supply for domestic consumers.
KCC&I said that while the government’s objective of ensuring uninterrupted LPG supply to households across the country is understandable, the implementation of the directive appears to have resulted in an unintended shortage of commercial LPG cylinders used by hotels and restaurants.
According to the Chamber, several hotel and restaurant associations have informed it that they are facing significant difficulties in procuring commercial LPG cylinders from suppliers. Some establishments, it said, have indicated that they may be forced to temporarily suspend operations if the situation continues.
The Chamber pointed out that hotels and restaurants largely depend on LPG as their primary source of fuel and do not have alternative cooking arrangements at the scale required for commercial operations. Any disruption in LPG supply, it said, directly affects their ability to continue services.
KCC&I warned that the shortage could lead to the closure of hotels, restaurants and eateries, which would not only disrupt tourism-related services but also result in job losses in the hospitality sector.
The Chamber further noted that the tourism industry in Kashmir had already faced a difficult phase in 2025, with tourist arrivals declining to around 11.16 lakh during the year, leading to substantial losses for the sector. Stakeholders had hoped that the upcoming tourist season would help offset these setbacks.
However, the present shortage of commercial LPG cylinders has created concern among hoteliers and restaurant owners at a time when preparations are underway to receive visitors, the Chamber said.
It also noted that the issue has emerged during the holy month of Ramadan, when food outlets experience increased demand during Iftar and late evening hours. With the festival of Eid al-Fitr approaching, restaurants, bakeries and catering establishments usually witness a surge in business.
KCC&I appealed to the central government and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to urgently address the issue and ensure adequate availability of commercial LPG cylinders for hotels, restaurants and catering units in Kashmir so that the hospitality sector can function without disruption.
