Withdraw price hike of outboard engines: KSMTF
Express News Service First Published : 01 Feb 2009 10:53:31 AM ISTLast Updated : 01 Feb 2009 12:18:28 PM ISTTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF) has called upon the Central and State Governments to withdraw the price hike of outboard engines used for fishing. Addressing a news conference here on Saturday, Federation president T.Peter said there was an increase of Rs 11,000 to Rs 17,000 based on the horsepower of engines. He said that at a time when the fishing sector was facing crisis owing to the shortage of marine wealth, the price hike of engines would further vitiate the crisis. Peter said that 12.5 percent tax was levied on outboard engines. But only four percent tax is levied on agricultural implements. Though the fisheries sector also comes under the Union Agriculture Ministry, it is not being given sufficient consideration. Peter also said that the tax on outboard engines should also be reduced to four percent to save the fisheries sector. He said that the National Fishworkers Forum and the KSMTF had decided to raise the major issues plaguing the fishing sector during the ensuing Lok Sabha elections and mount pressure on the mainstream political parties. Political parties will have to make clear their stand on giving licence to foreign trawlers, setting up of the Union Fisheries Ministry, Fish Import Policy, coastal protection scheme, special economic zone, special tourism zone on the coastal area, marine protected area, kerosene for fishing purpose and on the rehabilitation of fish workers who were affected by sea erosion. Mass conventions would be held in the coastal States before the Lok Sabha elections to press the demands of fish workers, Peter said. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
