Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, June 28 (EMN): Apparently the sale of formalin-laced fish continues to be available in the market in Dimapur. The office of the chief medical officer (CMO) of Dimapur along with the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), district administration, and Civil Society members seized 213 kg of formalin-laced fish in and around Dimapur town on Thur. June 28.
Likewise, the Chumukedima local administration along with Food Safety officials and Civil Society members conducted tests and found about 700-800 kg of fish laced with formalin. Chumukedima’s Extra Additional Commissioner Thejavizo Nakhro told Eastern Mirror that the confiscated fish would be disposed off on June 29.
Addressing media persons at the DMC’s office, Food Security Officer (FSO) Sendong Jamir said that the team conducted tests from an auction market located at Sematilla. The tests were on five different species of fish from which about 140 kg were found positive and were seized, it was informed.
In Duncan Bosti, 35 kg of formalin-laced fish were seized, while at the Sub Jail junction, 35 kg were seized. The fish markets at Khermahal and Notun Bosti were closed, the FSO said.
"The main source of supply has stopped for the past few days after news of the formalin-laced fish seizures was publicised so we could not collect maximum.”
12, 000 kg of fish are supplied from the auction market daily and one can only imagine the amount of formalin-laced fish we are consuming, he said. The presence of formalin was detected in Catla, Rohu, Pankaj, Pami and Pomfret fish, he informed. The seized fish were dumped at the DMC dumping site on Thur. evening.
The DMC’s administrator Moa Sangtam suggested that the state government find a mechanism that would test the fish before they are made available in the market.
