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The talk of the town from World Cup and now switching over to fish, the most popular commodity among all the communities in the capital city, also in the State and the entire region of North East India. Angling is one of the most popular sports in the rivulets, streams and river. But suddenly the word had spread in the fish markets, that ‘Formalin’ essentially being a preservative, yet can upset the health of the population has been laced on fish bodies, especially being imported from Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.
The fish market had suddenly run into troubled water, as buyers are skeptical on the
general health of fishes. Rumours and gossip have also spread around of the formalin factor in the entire North East. In fact ‘Formalin’ detection had prompted the Assam Government to impose a ban on the sale and entry of the “Challani” variety of fish.
“Formalin” is a toxic and cinogetic chemical, commonly used in preserving bodies of human in mortuaries. The long term solutions to Meghalaya is for increasing self production of fishes, considering the natural vast water bodies of streams and rivers and also encourage fish rearing ponds where it can be developed as a cottage industry. At present the state faces an annual shortage of 22.00 metric tonnes of fish annually. Local production is however less than half of the total requirement. Much is therefore expected from the much hyped Aqua Culture Mission which has so far failed in achieving the target. At present there is no fishery Act in the State in controlling fishing in troubled waters.
Besides Assam, the concern of “Formalin” factor was also expressed in other North Eastern States, including Mizoram. Samples of fishes collected from the market in Aizawl is being tested at the laboratory of the Regional Institute of Para Medical and Nursing Science to ascertain whether cancer inducing “Formalin” is present or not. The joint Director of Food and Drugs Administration Lalsawma said that fish samples from Bawngkawn market from where fish sellers procure imported fish from different State is being tested. In a meeting the High demand of fish in region, Meghalaya had launched the Aqua Culture Mission during 2012, yet the mission failed to produce any satisfactory result. In this connection, the Meghalaya State Planning Board had decided to conduct an inspection in the Integrated Basic Development Livelihood Programme in which rupees 400 crore was said to have been spent in the construction of twenty thousand fish ponds under the Aquatic Mission. There is definitely a serious lapse in the actual construction of the ponds within the monetary provision of rupees 400 crore.
Sumar Sing Sawian
To read the further article please get your copy of Eastern Panorama August issue @http://www.magzter.com/IN/Hill-Publications/Eastern-Panorama/News/ or mail to contact @easternpanorama.in
