Sri Vijaya Puram, Dec 11: Mr. Ajoy Bairagi, BJP National Council Member and Former State President, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has submitted a representation to Manohar Lal Khattar, Union Minister of Power, seeking urgent intervention to extend subsidies on electricity, diesel, and fuel to the Fisheries and Aquaculture sector in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, at par with subsidies already provided to the Agriculture sector.
The representation draws attention to the letter issued by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Department of Fisheries, which directed that necessary facilities and benefits be considered for the Fisheries and Aquaculture sector in A&N Islands similar to those available to agriculture.
Despite several representations submitted by the Fisheries Cooperative Federation and individual stakeholders, no positive action has been taken so far, and poor fishermen continue to be charged heavy commercial rates for electricity and diesel for operating cold storages, ice plants, and fishing boats. This has made operations financially unviable and has severely impacted their livelihood.
The matter was placed before the A&N Administration but remained unresolved due to the technical issue of electricity tariff being fixed by JERC. As per JERC guidelines, cold storage and ice plants fall under the commercial category, making them ineligible for subsidy. Considering the remoteness, scattered islands, and sparse population, Mr. Bairagi has humbly requested special consideration and a dedicated tariff package for the fisheries sector in A&N Islands.
Due to heavy electricity charges, many cold storages have already shut down, and fishermen are finding it extremely difficult to continue traditional fishing activities required for their livelihood.
Mr. Ajoy Bairagi has requested the Union Minister to issue necessary directions to JERC to consider a special power tariff package for the fisheries sector in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands to safeguard the interests of poor fishermen.
