The Kerala government has planned to set up 12 kerosene bunks to supply the fuel at subsidised rates to fishermen for operating out-board engine fitted fishing crafts, Minister for Ports and Fisheries K Babu said in the state Assembly today.
An amount of Rs 100 crore to provide subsidy had been earmarked in this year's budget and the government had already held discussions with the oil marketing companies to start the kerosene bunks, he said replying to a calling attention.
The bunks would be opened under Matsyafed, the Kerala State Co-operative Federation for Fisheries Department, which is the apex body for over 600 primary fisheries co-operative societies.
Admitting that the government was unable to supply the required quantity of kerosene to fishermen, he said the government had also taken an initiative to explore the possibility of developing out-board engines run with diesel instead of kerosene.
The government had entered an agreement with Gamaha company in this regard, he said to the Calling Attention of Dominic Presentation (Cong).
