Fishermen urges CM to increase diesel quota

01 October 2009

The Coastal Karnataka Fishermen Action Committee has urged chief minister B S Yeddyurappa to increase the monthly quota of diesel issued to fishermen to 10,000 kilolitre (KL), and the annual tax free quota of diesel to 90,000 KL. A letter from Vasudev Boloor, general secretary of the committee to the CM thanked the CM for increasing the annual quota of tax-free diesel to 75,000 KL.

Noting that this step has vastly encouraged fishermen, Boloor stated the community is greatly indebted to him. On reasons for seeking an increase in the quantum of this quota, Boloor stated that the number of deep-sea fishing boats had increased, and fishermen are forced to do long distances to find economically viable catch and the present monthly quota of 7,400 KL does not suffice for such long haul operations.

Boloor in a separate release observed that lack of action on part of the insurance agents and owners of M V Asian Forest or the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board in ensuring that oil on board the vessel that sank on July 18 off Mangalore coast was removed, is unfortunate. The authorities concerned are not taking note of oil blobs surfacing from the spot where the iron ore-laden vessel went down, Boloor noted.

Warning that a full scale oil leak from the sunken vessel will have disastrous consequences for the coastline in general and the livelihood of fishermen in particular, he said fishermen have spotted tar like floating substances nine nautical miles into the sea. Directions given by district in-charge minister J Krishna Palemar to authorities concerned in this regard on August 22 have not been implemented, he noted.

source times of india