Gas shortage hits Cutbona trawler operations as supply disruptions bite

NT Reporter

Margao

Fishing trawler operators at Cutbona are facing serious difficulties in securing commercial LPG cylinders, with supply disruptions beginning to affect day-to-day fishing operations and raising concerns about the continuity of fishing activities.

Each fishing trawler requires around 10 to 12 commercial gas cylinders a month for onboard cooking needs during fishing trips. However, operators said the disruption in supply has made it increasingly difficult to obtain these cylinders. Cutbona has more than 300 registered trawlers employing a workforce of around 5,000 workers.

Cutbona Boat Owners’ Federation executive committee member Patrick D’Silva said, “We are facing a lot of hardships due to disruption in the supply of commercial gas as each trawler requires one cylinder every three days which amounts to a minimum of 10 cylinders a month. However, with the commercial cylinders becoming out
of reach, it has taken a severe toll.”

He said that attempts to shift to alternative cooking methods have also created problems for boat owners. He said the prices of alternative cooking equipment have increased sharply, with cookers that earlier cost Rs 3,500 now being sold for around Rs 16,000.

D’Silva said the bigger problem is the adaptability of the crew to alternative cooking sources.

Sources within the sector told ‘The Navhind Times’ that illegal use of domestic LPG cylinders is rampant. “There is a significant cost difference between the domestic and commercial gas cylinders and as a result many of the trawler owners are using domestic gas cylinders,” said the source.

When contacted, the
department of civil supplies said that the responsibility lies with the agencies
that supply gas cylinders directly.