Kochi: Hotels and eateries across Kerala will shut down on 23 March in protest over an ongoing shortage of LPG supply, the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA) announced on Tuesday.

In a statement, the association said its state executive committee had resolved to intensify protests until its demands are met. It has urged the government to declare hotels an essential service and ensure priority allocation of LPG cylinders to the sector.

According to KHRA, oil companies are not supplying cylinders to hotels as they are not included in the priority category for LPG distribution. The association also alleged that private suppliers are taking advantage of the situation to significantly increase LPG prices.

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The body said many hotels have already been forced to close due to the shortage, affecting business operations and livelihoods. It further claimed that both the state and central governments have been indifferent to the concerns of the hospitality sector, despite the impact on large sections of the population.

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As part of its protest programme, KHRA said a march will be organised on 19 March to the bottling plants of oil companies. The statewide shutdown of hotels on 23 March will follow if the demands regarding priority LPG allocation are not addressed.

The statement was issued by KHRA president G Jayapal.

(PTI)