the goan I network
PANAJI
The Department of Fisheries has tightened the norms governing subsidy to fishermen on their petrol expenses of canoe (fishing vessel) with out-board-motor (OBM).
In a notification issued in the Official Gazette, it was mentioned that the owner of canoe is not eligible for the subsidy if he/she works abroad and has issued a power of attorney to any other person to operate his/her vessel.
Moreover, the owner of canoe can avail this subsidy on a maximum of only two fishing vessels. In an event a person has more than two fishing vessels, he or she will not get the benefit of subsidy beyond the two vessels.
The notification further says that for the purpose of this subsidy the husband, the wife and the children below 18 years of age will be treated as one unit or owner. This means people can no longer buy a canoe in the name of their spouse or under 18 children just to avail the subsidy.
As per this scheme, fishermen using petrol OBM are eligible for a subsidy from the state government of Rs 30 per litre on a maximum consumption of 1,700 litres of petrol per year. This translates to a maximum subsidy benefit of Rs 51,000 per fisherman in a year.
The conditions of the scheme also require fishermen using petrol OBM to produce a Goods-and-Services-Tax (GST) or Value-Added-Tax (VAT) bill/voucher from authorized petrol pumps along with a self-certificate or certificate from Fishermen Co- operative Society/Association of actual consumption of fuel for fishing purpose.
This certificate has to be duly verified and countersigned by field officials, which means Assistant Superintendent of Fisheries/Fisheries Officer/Fisheries Surveyor.
