SHILLONG:
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma could very well be feeling like fish out of water after learning from media reports on June 27 that the ban on imported fish had been lifted on June 24.
On June 26, the chief minister told media persons during the day that the government would study the situation before deciding to lift the ban on the sale of imported fish in the state.
“We will see, we will study the situation,” Sangma told reporters when responding to a query as to when the ban would be lifted.
He said the Health department was looking into the entire matter, and assured that the government would try to resolve the matter at the earliest.
Hours later, in late evening notifications issued by the deputy commissioners of East Khasi Hills and West Garo Hills said that the ban had actually been lifted with effect from June 24.
Obviously then, the chief minister had no clue as to the goings-on in the department concerned.
As for vendors and those who swear by fish, two precious days had been lost. The “study” could continue though — for the greater good of the fish fans.