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Decomposed fish floods local market
BIRATNAGAR, DEC 24 - Due to the poor performance of Quarantine Check Post, Biratnagar, in testing the fish imported from India, the avalanche of decomposed and unhygienic Indian fish has flooded the local markets.
The decomposed fish has also created health hazard to the local consumers.
"The Indian decomposed fish has become a great problem in the city, as the locals are forced to consume them," said Tara Niraula, a food official at Biratnagar Sub-Metropolitan City.
According to him, as much as 2,000kgs fish has been daily consumed in Biratnagar. Of the total consumption, half portion of fish is imported from India.
Niraula said that the Indian fish, which are 40 percent cheaper as compared to the local production, has a great demand in the local hotels and restaurants. "So, it has adversely affected the health of the locals," he said.
In addition, the police had confiscated 40-kg of decayed fish last Friday, which had a certificate of quarantine pass.
The substandard fish that are generally imported via Biratnagar and Kakadbhitta entry points have also reached to Dharan, Damak, and Birtamod, among others.
The local fish sellers said that the Indian fish packed in artificial ice have been imported in the country without any test.
Dr Binod Kumar Mallik, an official at Quarantine Check Post, Biratnagar, meanwhile, said that they have been unable to carry out scientific tests on the imported fish in lack of laboratory.
Referring to the certificate given to 40-kg dead fish, Mallik said that the check post had permitted import on condition that they would not sell in the market.
Moreover, the smuggled Indian fish has caused the local fish producers to fall behind the competitiveness of their production. The fish producers pointed out that their profession has been adversely affected due to cheaper and smuggled fish from India.
At present, a kg of Indian fish cost Rs 5 against 70 of the local fish.Posted on: 2003-12-25 04:51
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