Mysuru Hospitality Sector Crippled by Severe LPG Cylinder Shortage
The commercial LPG cylinder crisis in Mysuru intensified dramatically on Wednesday, plunging the city's hospitality and event management industries into chaos. With supplies dwindling to critically low levels, numerous hotels across the district have been forced to cease operations entirely. The scarcity has created a desperate situation where cylinders are unavailable even at exorbitant black-market prices reaching Rs 4,500, a staggering increase from the original rate of approximately Rs 1,900.
Event Management Industry Shifts Burden to Families
The supply disruption has severely impacted event management, with caterers now requiring families to arrange their own LPG cylinders—a significant departure from previous practices where caterers provided cylinders along with other materials. This shift has placed immense additional stress on families planning events, compounding their logistical and financial burdens.
Caterer HN Shridhara Murthy expressed frustration about the situation, stating they have no alternative but to depend on families due to persistent supply issues. "It is a big crisis," he lamented, highlighting the severity of the problem.
Exorbitant Prices and Discreet Sales Worsen Crisis
KR Satyanarayana, past-president of the Mysuru Choultry Owners' Association, explained that for events, caterers typically only transport the cylinders. "Earlier, we were providing two cylinders as complementary. But due to GST-related issues, we stopped this practice," he noted, indicating how regulatory changes have exacerbated the current shortage.
Another caterer, Shashidhara Rao, revealed that private suppliers are charging astronomical prices, forcing caterers to pass these costs onto clients. "Though there are no marriages until the second week of April, other events are ongoing. Some suppliers are demanding up to Rs 6,000 per cylinder, which is completely unaffordable for many families. It is a tricky situation," he said.
Rao added that locating reliable suppliers has become increasingly difficult, as cylinders are being sold discreetly in isolated areas to avoid scrutiny. "Shifting to firewood is also not a practical solution in urban areas," he emphasized, pointing to the limited alternatives available.
Families Face Exploitation Amid Desperation
Families are bearing the brunt of this crisis, with many reporting exploitation by unscrupulous suppliers. Shashikiran Hegde, a resident of Agrahara, described how those conducting unavoidable events are being targeted. "For two cylinders, up to Rs 10,000 is being demanded. There must be a proper mechanism to prevent this daylight robbery," he asserted, calling for regulatory intervention.
Hotel Closures Mount as Supply Standstill Continues
Meanwhile, several hotel owners have announced temporary closures as commercial LPG supply has virtually come to a standstill. One hotel owner explained, "Even if we are willing to pay a premium, cylinders are simply not available. The limited available stock is being prioritized for essential services like hostels and hospitals, leaving hotels in an extremely difficult situation."
Chamundeshwari Temple Adopts Firewood as Precaution
In a notable development, the Chamundeshwari Temple atop Chamundi Hills has proactively shifted to using firewood for preparing dasoha (religious offerings) as a precautionary measure. According to M J Roopa, secretary of the Sri Chamundeshwari Kshetra Development Authority, the temple maintains sufficient cylinder stock but opted for this alternative to ensure continuity of services.
The temple currently receives approximately 3,000 devotees on weekdays, with numbers swelling to between 5,000 and 5,500 on weekends, making reliable cooking arrangements essential for daily operations.
The ongoing LPG crisis in Mysuru highlights broader supply chain vulnerabilities affecting both commercial enterprises and religious institutions, with no immediate resolution in sight as stakeholders grapple with scarcity and skyrocketing costs.
