Fishermen in the city are not ready to call off their strike in spite of the petroleum minister decreasing the diesel price hike from Rs 11.62 to Rs 4.62 per litre. They feel they should not pay more because they are bulk buyers. This, in turn, has led to a shortage of supply of fish in markets since the past three weeks.

A group of fishermen met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Petroleum Minister M Veerappa Moily on Wednesday in New Delhi, where they requested that diesel be sold to them at regular consumer rates. Previously, fishermen bought diesel at Rs 43.62 per litre (cost after deduction of government subsidy of Rs 9). Now they will have to pay Rs 53 (Rs 4.62 more than the market rate) to buy diesel and later get the subsidy of Rs 9 (which will amount to Rs 47.62).