Panaji: At the beginning of the previous fishing season, Diesel stood at Rs 54 per liter – the price carried out by Pukat owners in a high Goa in front of Pandemi.
Little they anticipate that will increase to Rs 94 per liter during the season ending in May.
With the fishing operation that continued and the price of fuel touched Rs 100 per liter, the boat operator, worried about their margins and the impact of the consequences at the price of fish, looking for the replacement of PPN subsidies on time.
“It will be very difficult for us,” Pukat owners from the Vasco fishing rod, said Cruz Cardozo.
“We need more than 100 liters of fuel per day to operate, but not every day we can get a good catch.
The days where we return to the pier without catches it is difficult, but with the increase in fuel prices, days like It will only be more difficult, “he said.
There are several countries such as Tamil Nadu where the state government gives subsidized boat operators on VAT charged for diesel.
VAT is around Rs 20 compared to Rs 94 from the price of diesel in Goa.
Even though fishermen in Goa are also entitled to VAT subsidies, many ship owners claim that they have not received their replacement.
“The state government has reduced fuel subsidies for fishermen from Rs 50,000 to Rs 30,000 since last year.
It has been more than a year since the delayed subsidies are released.
How do we survive in a challenging time like that?” Fishermen based in Nerul, said Ozer Mendes.
Repeating that it is not feasible to run their boats with diesel rates like that, the president of the Association of the Owners of the Seine All Goa Purse, Harshad Dhond said, “Therefore we want the government to give us a traveling trip of VAT.
That can be done to help the fisheries sector in Goa.
“While Pukat owners depend on Diesel, traditional fishermen or Ramponkar need gasoline to run their canoe motors.
However, the need to mix oil in gasoline for the functioning of the motor leads to fishermen that spend more money to trigger-up.
In addition, due to the lack of current fish availability because of rough sea conditions, Ramponkar finally spend more time in the sea increasing their fuel needs into two tanks instead of.
“We used to need 25 liters, but now we need 50 liters at a cost of around Rs 5,000 for a day trip.
It’s not only an affordable for us but it’s not profitable when fish that are not enough caught,” Secretary General, National Workworkers Forum, said Olencio Simoes.
He added that there would be a direct impact on fish prices if gasoline prices were not regulated.
“The fisheries department must ensure that the government understands that subsidies act as a relief for fishermen and ultimately affect fish prices too,” said Simoes.