‘Fisheries, health depts should test fish samples'

The quarterly KDP meeting of Udupi Taluk Panchayat resolved to create awareness among the people that the fish was not adulterated with formalin.

The meeting decided to urge the Fisheries and the Health departments to test the fish at Malpe port to assess whether formalin had been used.

MLA Raghupathi Bhat said that the Goa government, claiming that fish are laced with chemicals for preservation, had unnecessarily banned the transportation of fish from Karnataka. “If the rumour on formalin-laced fish continues to exist, then it will be a loss for the fishing industry. Hence, there is a need to create confidence among the customers from the district and also outside and assure them that chemicals are not used to keep fish fresh,” he explained.

He concurred that the departments should test the fish samples once in a week to certify the quality of the fish.

Saving breeds

The Fisheries Department officer informed the house that the Central government has banned the small-holed fishing nets in order to save fish breed.

“Nets with diamond-shaped holes will be available and tender is called to hand over such nets for 1,000 fisheries boats in Malpe. Up to 27 houses are allotted under Mathsyashraya Yojane in the year 2017-18,” the officer informed.

Bhat said that the housing scheme taken up by the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation is not being implemented effectively. The fishermen have expressed their dissatisfaction.

Market suspension

The legislator also questioned the suspension of the weekly organic and farmers’ market at Doddannagudde.

The official from the Horticulture Department said that the farmers were not interested in the markets or active. In response, Bhat instructed the official to reintroduce the markets by next the KDP meeting.

Bhat also stressed on growing fruit-bearing trees inside forests so that the wild animals like monkeys do not stray into villages and damage crops.

The PWD engineer said that Rs 35.15 crore is released for taking up 21.95-km double-lane road in the first phase from Brahmvar to Seethanadi.

The roads extending from KG Road to Kukkehalli and Kenchuru-Nalkuru-Shiroor will be upgraded in the next phase, said the engineer.