Traditional fishermen, who are already affected by the lack of fishing days due to bad weather conditions and restricted fishing days, are facing another hurdle with the price of kerosene in the market going up to Rs 102 per litre. are.
“Our conclusion is that the latest price hike will destroy the traditional sector,” said Charles George of Matsya Thozhilali Ekya Vedhi. The fishermen’s union termed the increase in prices as unfair and said it would break the back of the traditional fishing sector.
With the latest hike, the price of kerosene has gone up by ₹14 per litre. The price in the month of May was ₹84. It was increased by Rs 4 in June and the latest hike is effective from July 1. The basic price of kerosene, transportation charges, dealers’ commission and taxes were applicable at the time of sale of kerosene through the Public Distribution System. Civil Supplies Department.
The communication said that though the price of kerosene was increased by Rs 4 in June, the price of PDS in the state was not hiked. At present, subsidized kerosene was sold through the PDS system in the state for Rs 84, the communication added. Instructions have been issued by Minister GR Anil to continue the same price till the stock runs out.
Mr. George said that the State Government was under constant pressure from the Central Government to do away with the conversion of a part of the allotted quota of Kerosene to the State. He said that a few months back the quantity supplied of kerosene used to be around 28,000 kilo liters, but the quantity was reduced to 2,000 kilo liters. He said that the supply to the fisheries sector has been reduced from 450 liters per month to 129 liters.
The price hike came at a time when traditional fishermen were hoping to take advantage of the fishing ban during the rainy season, Mr. George said. Though the state government had, during the last elections, promised to supply kerosene to the fishing sector at Rs 25 per liter, the promise was not fulfilled, even as Tamil Nadu still got Rs 20. was supplying kerosene per litre, he said.