A kerosene pump of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), coming up within the Tangasseri Fishing Harbour complex here, is expected to mitigate the fuel woes of the traditional fishermen based in Kollam city. About 800 fishermen registered with the Matsyafed will be the beneficiaries. Active traditional sector fishermen are entitled to 127 litres of kerosene each month on Central government subsidy as fuel for their fishing vessels at the rate of Rs. 16 a litre through their ration cards from the Civil Supplies Department. Apart from this, the Matsyafed registered fishermen are entitled to 140 litres of subsidised kerosene from the State government. To avail the latter quota, fishermen based at the Tangasseri fishing harbour now travel all the way from here to the Shakthikulangara Fishing Harbour to purchase that kerosene. With the IOC pump coming up at the former harbour, fishermen based at Tangasseri can avoid the travel to Shakthikulangara for availing the quota. The Tangasseri pump is expected to become operational by the end of this month. Market prices of kerosene fluctuate. Whatever the price the State government gives a fixed subsidy of Rs. 25 on a litre. After availing the 140 litres on State government subsidy, fishermen can purchase kerosene from the pump without subsidy too. As per Matsyafed estimates, each traditional fishing craft requires about 400 litres of kerosene every month. A kerosene pump at the Tangasseri fishing harbour complex was a long standing demand of the city’s fishing community. The project got a boost with J. Mercykutty Amma taking over as the Minister for Fisheries. The State government kerosene subsidy initiative has served to bring down the black market price of kerosene. Fishermen depend upon the black market too for their fuel needs beyond the quotas. Prior to the State government quota scheme, the black market price of kerosene in the vicinity of the Tangasseri harbour ranged from Rs. 90 to Rs. 100 a litre. That price has now dropped to about Rs. 60 a litre, fishermen of the area say.
2016, The Hindu