A large number of traditional boat fishermen from Kundapur, Gangolli, Byndoor and Malpe staged a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Monday demanding the immediate release of kerosene at subsidised rates. Addressing the protesters, Naveenchandra, leader of Kundapur Taluk Traditional Fishermen Association, said that there were 4,514 country boats in three coastal districts of Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada. Together, these boats required 1,355 kilolitres of kerosene every month. But this had not been released for last three months [December, January and February] in Udupi district, he said. It was normal for the government to provide subsidised kerosene for traditional boats from September to May. This kerosene was being distributed since years through fair price shops and fishermen cooperative societies. This year too, kerosene had been supplied from September to November for traditional fishing boats. But the Food Corporation of India had not released kerosene for traditional fishing boats for the last three months. It was not possible for traditional boat fishermen to survive without kerosene as boats used by them required it for their outboard engines. In other States, traditional fishermen were using diesel and LPG cylinders. But our outboard engines are kerosene oriented. If the government wanted the fishermen to shift to either diesel or LPG cylinders, then, it should provide such outboard engines to the fishermen. Till then, kerosene should be provided, he said. Nearly 50,000 fishermen are dependent on traditional fishing and there are many allied sectors attached to it. At present, the government was not providing kerosene to all traditional boat fishermen in Udupi district. Gopal Poojary, Byndoor MLA, and Priyanka Mary Francis, Deputy Commissioner, promised the protesters that immediate action would be taken for distribution of kerosene to them. Kota Srinivas Poojary, MLC, Raghupati Bhat, former MLA, were present.