Fishermen demand subsidy on diesel

A delegation of National Fishworkers Forum on Wednesday met Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily to demand subsidy on diesel to seagoing fishermen who purchase diesel at retail rate at beaches.

 “The recent price hike of Rs 10 to Rs 15  per litre for bulk purchase of diesel will severely hit the small and traditional fishing communities who collect diesel from the petrol pumps of the marine fisheries cooperative societies. These societies purchase diesel in bulk quantities not for open business or profit but for helping the fishing communities by catering the fuel near their workplaces on the coast,” said the forum in the memorandum they submitted to the petroleum minister. 

“The small and traditional fishing communities operating from beach landing on the coasts are not being able to get the benefit of tax exemption or reimbursement,” says the memorandum.

 “The diesel subsidy is only available on purchase of diesel from petrol pumps, the small and traditional fishing communities operating from beach landing centres that are generally away from the petrol pumps cannot get access to the same,” says the forum.