SHILLONG: The state government is exploring a proposal to set up testing centres to ensure that consumable items entering the state are safe and free from chemicals, State Planning Board Chairman Lambor Malngiang said on Tuesday.
Malngiang also informed that fishing ponds constructed under the Meghalaya Aquaculture Mission in the state would be inspected.
“We have received a report from the Fisheries department on the status of the ponds which were funded by the government and the inspection would be conducted after studying the report in details”, he said, adding that the fish ponds across East Khasi Hills District would be inspected first.
The Planning Board chief expressed surprise that the state was dependent on fishes imported from other states despite construction of around 27,000 fish ponds under the Aquaculture Mission.
Malngiang also lamented that the state produces only 6,000 metric tonnes if fish annually despite the presence of a huge number of fish ponds.
He asserted that fish ponds built with financial assistance from the government should be able to produce the quantity of fish as per the target.
In his response to a query, Malngiang said there could be various reasons behind the state’s inability to achieve self sufficiency in fish production. He, however, did not elaborate the reasons.
