‘Pending diesel subsidy to be released in a week’

Minister for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Venkata Rao Nadagouda said that the pending diesel subsidy amount for the fishing boats would be released within a week.

He spoke after listening to the woes of fishermen during his visit to the fisheries port on Tuesday.

The minister said that he would discuss the issue with the senior officials in Bengaluru and all measures will be taken to release the amount.

Further, he said that the state government is committed to completing the work on Phase 3 of the fisheries port in Mangaluru. An additional grant is required for the completion of the work. The government has already released its share for the work. The Centre is yet to release the amount, he clarified.

He said that the Centre has reduced the supply of kerosene. Hence, the fishing boats should look into alternative fuel instead of kerosene.

Earlier, the minister visited fisheries port, jetty and ice plants.

Fishermen’s demands

Karnataka Purse-Seine Meenugarara Sangha and Mangalore Trawl Boat Meenugarara Sangha submitted a memorandum to Nadagouda, urging that the problems of fishermen community be solved.

The minister was also urged to complete the third phase of the extension work at the fisheries port in Mangaluru. He was asked to recruit more staff for the Fisheries Department. As there is a shortage of grants in the port for maintenance works, funds should be provided immediately, Nadagouda was requested.

The BJP district fisheries cooperative societies have urged the minister, through a memorandum, to fulfil several demands. Loan waiver facility should be provided to fishermen who have availed loans from fisheries cooperative society. The pending amount of compensation, to be provided to fisherwomen for the last two years, should be released at the earliest. Also, subsidies should be provided to repay the loans availed by them.

Matsyashraya

The society members demanded that government lands be earmarked for the Matsyashraya scheme. The subsidy for the housing scheme should be increased to Rs five lakh. Zero interest loans should be provided up to Rs 10 lakh, through Fisheries Marketing Federation. Subsidy of Rs 25,000 should be provided to traditional fishermen to purchase nets, nylon ropes and other equipment.

Compensation of Rs 10 lakh should be given to the families of fishermen in case of death of a fisherman and Rs 5 lakh for suffering disabilities in a mishap while fishing. Protective walls should be built at estuaries in Bengre, Kulai and Sasihitlu-Hejamady. A fisheries cooperative hall should be built in the district. Distress Alert Transmitter should be distributed to fishermen. CRZ authority office should be shifted to the district. Mobile stalls should be facilitated to street fish vendors, the memorandum said.