[Reader-list] Fwd: Kerosene Quota: Fisherfolk Plan Stir

[T Peter]

Kerosene Quota: Fisherfolk Plan Stir

By Express News Service - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Published: 19th December 2013 09:04 AM

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Kerosene-Quota-Fisherfolk-Plan-Stir/2013/12/19/article1952936.ece

Fishworkers, under the aegis of Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali
Federation (KSMTF) will launch protests against the State Government’s
decision to slash the quota of kerosene used for outboard engines of
traditional fishermen by 20 litres.

With the cut in kerosene quota, the quantity of the fuel supplied to
fishermen have come down from 129 litre to 109 litre, National Secretary of
National Fishworkers Forum T Peter told a news conference here on Wednesday.

Protesting the government decision, fishworkers will lay siege to the Civil
Supplies Department office here on December 27, Peter said.

“Even though fishermen have been demanding increase in kerosene allocation,
the government has periodically reduced the quota. The allocation of
kerosene which was as high as 500 litres a month has now been reduced to
109 litres forcing fishermen to procure kerosene from the black market at a
rate of Rs 65 per litre,” he said.

Kerosene permits are issued to fishermen after examination by the Fisheries
Department, Matsyafed and the Civil Supplies Department. Even though rules
stipulate that till another joint examination is carried out, the existing
permits should be retained.

However, Civil Supplies officials are unilaterally terminating the permits,
Peter alleged.