Hiriyanna T. Kediyoor President of Malpe Fishermen’s Association during in his talking with media persons at Udupi said that in order to encourage fishermen, the government was giving sale tax exempt diesel to them. But state government had now decided to reintroduce the system of crediting sales tax refund to the Bank accounts of mechanized boat owners from the present fiscal. This system was in existence before 2000. But the fishermen had suffered a lot in the pre 2000 system as the refund was not given on time and often was staggered and carried forward to the next year. Lack of adequate funds in the government treasury and non co operation of officials were the bane of the pre-2000 system.

When the NDA government was in power it had announced an incentive of Rs. 1.5 per litre which the UPA government had increased an incentive of Rs. 1.5 per litre. But now no fishermen had received this incentive. He said that all these matters brought the matters to the notice of Pramod Madwaraj MLA. He assured that he would urge the government to continue with existing system.

 He further said that all legislators and parliamentarians of twin districts had a held a meeting in Bangalore. They had assured that any step with the regard to the new system would be taken with the concurrence of the fishermen. But the government has issued orders to implement the new system. Since the new system was full of flaws, it would be better it sales tax exempt diesel was provided to the fishermen instead of transferring the refund to owners’ accounts. Talking with the media persons he said that The Malpe Fishermen’s Association was the apex body for all fishermen’s organizations in Udupi District. It has been holding a dharna since Friday against the present system and will be held daily till April 7th, 2015.

Sri Oscar Fernandes MP of Rajya Sabha had assured the association that he would soon meet Chief Minister by April 7th and find solution of this problem. The mechanized has stopped going for fishing since April 2 and put anchor at harbor at the Malpe.

During the press meet along with Hiriyanna T. Kediyoor present were Yaspal Suvarna, Ravi Suvarna, Vishwa Suvarna, Ramachandra Kotian, Vittal Karkera and others among leaders of various associations.