Officials of Food & Civil Supplies and Fisheries Department and the district administration have launched a crackdown on fish traders who are still selling fish imported from other States. Officials have also seized many quintals of fish imported from other States amid the 10-day ban announce by Pijush Hazarika, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, on Tuesday after tests on fish samples collected from various markets tested formalin positive.
The newly-inducted minister had also warned erring fish traders of legal action, including arrests and jail terms, if they sell formalin-injected fish.
However, many fish traders are still selling fish imported from other States despite the 10-day ban.
RELATED VIDEO:
Food & Civil Supplies, Fisheries and district administration officials in Golaghat carried out a surprise raid at fish markets and seized sixteen quintals of imported fish that were kept for sale while also inspecting a truck believed to have brought a tonne of fish imported from Andhra Pradesh.
#BREAKING | Sixteen quintals of fish brought from Andhra Pradesh to #Assam seized from Golaghat fish market in joint raid by officials of Food & Civil Supplies department, Fisheries department and district administration.
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) July 12, 2018
Similar raids were carried out in several other places as officials tried to enforce a blanket ban on import of fish from other States and their sale in fish markets in the State.
Meanwhile, prices of many species of local fish have shot up after the ban on imported fish. Traders say there has been a Rs 30-40 increase in prices of local varieties of fishes.