Fishfed, IOCL ink pact for exclusive diesel outlets for fishermen

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Bhubaneswar,
Dec 22: Odisha State Fishermen Co-Operative Federation (Fishfed) on Thursday signed
a MoU with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) for setting up 13 high speed
diesel (HSD) consumer pumps at various Fish Landing Centers and Jetties in the
State.

The
MoU was signed by Fishfed managing director Subal Chandra Mohanty and IOCL
Chief Divisional Consumer Sales Manager Ashok Mishra at the State Secretariat
here in the presence of Agriculture and Farmer’s Empowerment, Fisheries and ARD
Minister Pradeep Maharathy, Fisheries and ARD Department Secretary Bishnupada
Sethi, and many senior Government officials.
The
diesel outlets will be opened by IOCL at Chandrabhaga, Astaranga, Balugaon,
Bahabalpur, Kharinasi, Chudamani, Palur, Bhusandapur, Sonepur, Nairy, Talchua,
Panchubisa and Sorana at present. Fishfed will provide diesel at the doorstep
of the fishermen with a rebate at 0.501 per liter for fishing operation which
will help 70,000 fishermen financially whose mechanized and motorized boats
operate along the coast.
“With
a total production of 5.21 lakh MT of fish, the State ranks 9th position in the
country in fish production. Every year approximately Rs 2,000 crore of fish and
fisheries products are exported from Odisha. It is intended to increase the
present fish production and export in coming years. In 480 kms of coastline,
around 1.14 lakh fishermen and families reside,” said the Minister on the ocassion.
He
said the State has 73 fish landing centers with two major fishing harbors where
1,755 mechanized boats, 7666 motorized boats and 9507 traditional boats are in
operation. Last year our marine fish catch was 1.45 lakh MT, out of which 60%
is exported to different States and Countries. Providing diesel at rebate and
at the doorsteps of fishermen will lessen the problem and augment fish catch, added
the Minister.

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