Question : REBATE ON HIGH SPEED DIESEL

(a) whether the Government has provided a rebate on High Speed Diesel (HSD) to fishermen for use in mechanized fishing vessels;

(b) if so, the details of such rebate provided to the fishermen of the country during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise including Odisha;

(c) whether the Government has received any complaints regarding denial of such rebate on HSD to fishermen during the said period;

(d) if so, the details thereof, State-wise including Odisha along with the action taken by the Government thereon; and

(e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (DR. CHARAN DAS MAHANT)

(a) to (b) : During the 10th Five Year Plan, a rebate on High Speed Diesel (HSD) oil at the rate of `1.50 per litre was provided to the mechanized fishing vessels under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme Development of Marine Fisheries, Infrastructure and Post Harvest Operations. The Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries proposed to continue the scheme during the 11th Plan with enhanced subsidy from `1.50 per litre to `3 per litre. While approving the revised scheme in February, 2009, it was directed that such subsidy should be provided only to fishers of Below Poverty Line (BPL). No funds have been released during last three years and the current year, as the coastal State Governments and Union Territories (UTs) have not submitted any proposal during this period.

(c ) to (e): Fishermen organizations and some Coastal State Governments such as Goa, Maharashtra and Kerala had represented primarily for removal of the BPL condition. Restoration of the diesel subsidy to all categories of fishermen as demanded by the fishermen organizations and States was not supported during the 11th Plan due fiscal deficit and availability of limited funds. However, the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries has proposed removal of the BPL condition under the 12th Plan scheme, which is subject to necessary approvals.