Cylinder gas 'trouble' remains unsolved in Kerala; Hotel shutdown continues

KOCHI: The hope of commercial gas cylinder supply returning to normalcy from Monday was dashed. The Civil Supplies Commissioner had assured that the hotels would be given priority and cylinders distributed, but the order was not issued.

In the hope of receiving the cylinders, the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association had postponed the protest. The plan was to close all hotels on the 23rd and march to the gas bottling plant on the 19th, but it was withdrawn with the assurance that cylinders would be distributed.

The organization now decided to go on strike if the order is not issued on Saturday. It was announced that 20 per cent of the cylinders booked earlier would be distributed to hotels from Thursday evening.

Workers in hotels have started their ‘exodus’. Migrant workers in restaurants across the state have started travelling back home en masse due to dim job prospects. The owners tried to persuade them by paying half of their salaries, but to no avail.

KHRA State President G. Jayapal told Kerala Kaumudi that Union Minister Suresh Gopi had assured that he would intervene in the matter. Jaypal said he is hopeful about Suresh Gopi's office's assurance that steps will be taken to increase the availability of commercial cylinders to 40 per cent.

“90 per cent of the hotels in the state have been closed. There must be urgent intervention by the state and central governments,” said G. Jayapal, State President K.H.R.A.