Gandhinagar, March 21 The recent increase in bulk diesel prices has been withdrawn for Gujarat's fishermen after the state approached the Centre, Fisheries Minister Jitu Vaghani said on Saturday.
The Gujarat government had urged the Centre to provide relief to the fisheries sector by considering a "special exception" and withdrawing the increase of Rs 22.43 per litre in the price of bulk diesel used in fishermen's boats, he said.
The minister said that the state had requested that fishermen be treated on par with retail customers.
"Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Centre has accepted this reasonable representation from the fishermen of Gujarat. The Centre has instructed Bharat Petroleum to withdraw the increase of Rs 22.43 in the price of diesel used in fishermen's boats."
"Therefore, the fishermen of the state will now receive diesel at the previously decided concessional rate," an official release stated.
According to details of the matter, the Gujarat government had signed an agreement with the public sector undertaking Bharat Petroleum to ensure diesel for fishermen at a discounted price. However, the PSU recently increased diesel prices for fishermen by Rs 22.43 per litre.
"A representation was made to Vaghani, MLAs, local leaders, and various fisheries organizations. Considering the seriousness of the matter, Vaghani, under the guidance of the Chief Minister, made a representation to the Centre to intervene in this regard," the release said.
The price of premium or higher-grade petrol was increased on Friday by Rs 2 per litre, while the rate of bulk diesel sold to industrial users was hiked by Rs 22.43 a litre, reflecting the spike in global oil prices amid conflict in the Middle East.