SHILLONG: The fish association has allayed fears about the quality of fish being brought in from Andhra Pradesh.
In response to a news report in this daily sourced from the meeting of the co-chairman of Meghalaya State Planning Board, John F. Kharshiing, with stakeholders, the Khasi Jaintia Fish Wholesaler and Retailer Association said no chemical is used to preserve the fish imported from Andhra Pradesh.
The association also said it is highly misconstrued to point out that supply of fish to the State is less even after importing fish from Andhra Pradesh.
Earlier, quoting figures, Kharshiing had said there is a shortage of 22,000 metric tonnes of fish per year in the State.
Addressing a press conference, Mitchel Wankhar, president of the association, said on Wednesday the wholesaler and retailer has been supplying fish to various places in Khasi and Jaintia Hills for years even before the State Aqua Mission was launched in mid-2012.
Commenting on the freshness of the fish, he said, “The supply of fish from Andhra Pradesh is and has always been fresh right from the time the fish are caught from the ponds. Fish are packed and graded accordingly to ensure their freshness and quality till they reach the market,” he said.
Wankhar also showed a video clip on the segregation, packaging in non-toxic thermacol boxes till the time they reach the various hubs in the State.
“The fish we supply are good, healthy and fit for human consumption and moreover, we have our own ice plant in Shillong,” he said.
Refuting allegations that it takes 18-21 days for trucks to reach Meghalaya from Andhra Pradesh, he said, “The trucks are driven by trained drivers and they reach here in 5-6 days.”
He said such trucks drive all the way to other states like Tripura, Manipur and Nagaland.
According to Wankhar, claims that fish from Andhra Pradesh are not fit for human consumption are misleading and unacceptable to the association.
He said such claims were made by so-called ‘fish farmers’ or ‘beneficiaries’, who claim to own and supply locally reared fish.
Lashing out at fish farmers and beneficiaries, he said, “There is no production of fish from the so-called beneficiaries or pond owner. There is no Shillong fish, Jaintia fish in the market. Now they are questioning the freshness of the fish we bring from Andhra Pradesh.”
Alleging that locals resort to gambling in the fish trade that involves huge sum of money ranging from Rs 5-6 lakh, he said people would often bring in matured fish in the pond.
Wankhar went on to say that having a fish pond in the State is a ‘hobby’ unlike in Andhra Pradesh where aqua-culture is a matter of sustenance.
On the allegations that fish are being injected with chemicals, he said, “There are no such chemical reactions or solvents added as what appeared in some social media platforms which is a mere attempt to tarnish the business.”
One truck carries 15,000 fish and it is not possible for a person to inject each and every fish, he said. “There is a difference between local fish farmers and the association while dealing with production. The production of fish by local farmers is seen only during aqua fest held by the State Government.”
Wankhar added that local production of fish is confined to grass carp and silver carp, which is not much in demand.
The market demand of fish in Khasi-Jaintia Hills, from Andhra Pradesh to Shillong is approximately 15-20 MT per day and 6,500 MT annually.
In Jaintia hills, the market demand for fish is 8-10 MT per day and 3,130 MT annually.
In Shillong, the demand from Assam is around 1 MT per day and 350 MT per year. In Jaintia Hills, it is1/2 MT per day and 200 MT annually.
