Mangaluru: Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader denied allegations by BJP that the state government has failed in providing subsidised kerosene to fishermen towards country boats.

Addressing reporters here on Thursday, the minister said that the process of distribution of kerosene has not been discontinued. It was only delayed by 15 days following modification of software.

In fact, the state government has issued feasibility certificates to new country boards to bring in more transparency in the system. A total of 1,300 feasibility certificates have been issued in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, he said.

The fishermen operating the country boats were in distress after the Centre issued notification limiting the use of kerosene for cooking purpose only.

But, owing to the firm decision taken by the state government to continue providing kerosene at subsidised costs, hurdles in the earlier system have been cleared. The state government made it possible by purchasing kerosene from the oil companies at Rs 34 per litre and distributing the same at Rs 24 per litre for fishermen.

The government is utilising Rs 3.5 crore per month towards the procurement of kerosene, he said. There are 915 country fishing boats in Dakshina Kannada, 990 in Uttara Kannada and 2610 in Udupi districts respectively.