Large number of fishing boats in Saurashtra have returned to shores after petrol pumps stopped giving them diesel on credit due to the ongoing liquidity crunch. Bharat Mody, president of Gujarat Fishworkers Forum, told TOI that the fishermen who are issued special passes by the state government that enables them to get Rs six relaxation on VAT. “The fishermen have stopped getting credit from the petrol pumps run by the state-run oil marketing companies. Those operated by private players are not giving any subsidy,” Modi said. According to him, one fishing trawler consumes diesel worth Rs 1.5 lakh in a fortnight at sea. “The fishermen repay the money to the pumps once they return from fishing. This has been the regular practice,” he said. There are nearly 30,000 fishing boats operating in Gujarat and roughly 3,500-4,000 have returned to shores.
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