Diesel outlets for fishermen inaugurated, foundation laid in Nagapattinam

A diesel sales outlet constructed by the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation (TNFDC) under the Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare was inaugurated at Vellappallam in Vedaranyam taluk on Monday while the foundation stone was laid for another outlet at Nambiyar Nagar in Nagapattinam taluk.

District Collector P. Akash and TNFDC Chairman N. Gowthaman inaugurated the Vellappallam outlet and performed the foundation-laying ceremony for the facility at Nambiyar Nagar.

The two diesel outlets were announced in the State Budget for 2022-23 by the Minister for Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare, with an allocation of ₹15 lakh each, to benefit fishermen in Vellappallam and Nambiyar Nagar areas.

Officials said the site for the Nambiyar Nagar outlet had been identified and necessary Coastal Regulation Zone clearances obtained, following which the foundation stone was laid.

Through the proposed outlet, subsidised diesel supplied by the government will be made available to fishermen operating 41 mechanised boats and 185 fibre-reinforced country boats in the Nambiyar Nagar fishing village. Each mechanised boat is eligible for up to 19,000 litres of subsidised fuel annually while motorised country boats can receive up to 4,400 litres, enabling fishermen to carry out their fishing activities without difficulty.

At Vellappallam, the completed outlet will benefit fishermen from Vellappallam, Vanavanmahadevi and Naluvedapathi villages, covering about 400 fibre-reinforced country boats.

Nagapattinam Municipal Chairperson R. Marimuthu, Assistant Director of Fisheries Jayaraj, officials of the Fisheries Department, members of fishermen welfare bodies, and other government officials were present.