Date:26/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/26/stories/2008082655010600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Fishermen stage demonstration

Staff Reporter

“Provide more diesel for boat operation”

— Photo: N. Rajesh.

AGITATION: Fishermen and owners of mechanised fishing boats staging a demonstration in Tuticorin on Monday.

Tuticorin: Fishermen and owners of mechanised fishing boats staged a demonstration in front of the Collectorate on Monday, to press their demands.

They urged the district administration to take immediate steps to provide more diesel for the operation of boats, as 246 mechanised boats based at the fishing harbour here had been keeping away from sea for the past many days, owing to acute fuel shortage.

The agitators pointed out that against the daily requirement of 90,000 litres for 246 boats, only 36,000 litres were now provided to the fishermen through the three fuel bunks operated by the Tamil Nadu Fisheries’ Development Corporation here.

Due to this crisis, the trade had been affected severely for the past one week as the boats could not go fishing in deep sea.

Later, they submitted a memorandum to the Collector, R. Palaniyandi, seeking his intervention. He assured them that steps would be taken to enhance the supply of diesel in consultation with the authorities concerned.