Fishermen of Coastal K’taka face shortage of kerosene oil supply

Byndoor: The fishermen of Coastal Karnataka are reportedly facing a shortage in supply of kerosene, even after two months after the start of the fishing season.

Due to the kerosene shortage, fishermen dependent on traditional and gillnet fishing boats are facing issues.

As per the reports, earlier the state government had promised to increase the quantity of supply of kerosene from 150 litres to 300 litres. But this is not being implemented yet.

However, the Central Government has supplied 3,540 kilolitres of kerosene oil for special purposes to around 4,514 boats operational at Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, and Udupi districts for the year 2021-22.

In April 2021, for 4, 514 fishing boats, around 1,355 kilolitres of kerosene oil were distributed for all three districts. In the Udupi district already there are 2,610 licensed fishing boats. Recently, about 2,500 fishing boats, in addition, were issued new licenses.

Due to the addition of 2,500 newly licensed boats, earlier distributed 783 kilolitres of kerosene oil for 2,615 boats is now required to be distributed to 5,110 boats (after the addition of freshly licensed 2500 boats). As a result of this, the situation of allotting 150 litres to each boat has risen.

Kerosene oil is essential for the functioning of outboard engines. For this, the fishermen have demanded to increase the allotment of kerosene oil from 150 litres to 300 litres per boat.

Meanwhile, fishermen leader Nagesh Kharvi Alvekodi has warned the government to sort out the issue of kerosene oil supply at the earliest or face violent protests.