MLAs Demand Retail Diesel Pricing for Uran Fishermen at Mora and Karanja Ports
During the Maharashtra Legislature's monsoon session, MLAs Prashant Thakur and Mahesh Baldi raised urgent concerns over the high operational costs of diesel affecting fishermen operating from Mora and Karanja ports in Uran taluka. The legislators urged the state government to revise the classification of fisheries cooperative societies from "bulk consumers" to "retail consumers" to reduce heavy fuel expenses threatening local livelihoods.
The legislators highlighted the issue through a starred question, pointing out that fisheries cooperative societies are currently forced to purchase diesel at higher bulk rates. This pricing structure has significantly increased operational costs for fishermen, particularly those dependent on deep-sea fishing along Maharashtra's Konkan coast.
The financial strain is especially acute for around 300 purse seine and deep-sea fishing vessels operating from Mora and Karanja ports, where large quantities of diesel are essential for daily operations. According to the MLAs, the steep rise in fuel costs, coupled with the absence of concessions, has severely affected both traditional and small-scale fishermen, threatening their livelihoods.
In a written reply, Maharashtra Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane acknowledged that diesel supplied to the fisheries cooperative societies is currently categorised under the bulk-rate pricing system. He stated that the recent escalation in fuel prices was linked to global supply disruptions triggered by the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran. This conflict has resulted in wholesale diesel prices becoming significantly higher than retail prices in Maharashtra.
The minister admitted that the increase in diesel prices has adversely impacted the fishing industry, with fishermen facing a substantial rise in fuel expenses, which constitute their primary operational cost. Rane added that several fisheries cooperative societies have already submitted representations to the government seeking a reduction in diesel prices.
To address the issue, Rane informed the House that the Maharashtra government had written to the Union government on March 23, 2026. The state has requested that diesel supplied to fishermen be shifted from the bulk pricing category to the retail pricing category, a move aimed at providing much-needed relief to the state's fishing community.
