SHILLONG:
The Mawlai Circle of the United Democratic Party (UDP) has expressed concern over the outbreak of African swine fever and lumpy skin disease in cattle besides the detection of formalin in fish imported from outside the state.
In a statement on June 11, UDP leader and former legislator from Mawlai PT Sawkmie said the people of the state would like to know whether the outbreak of these diseases is only in Meghalaya or in other parts of the country as well.
He said the animal husbandry and veterinary minister has to instruct the doctors in the department to find out the main cause of the diseases because till date, the veterinary doctors have not informed anything on the matter or advise those persons who were doing this business.
Sawkmie also questioned the precautionary steps taken by the department to prevent the diseases from spreading and said that the people of the state are suffering a lot because they cannot eat pork and beef and now even fish.
Further, the former MLA said that the fisheries department also has to find out whether fish suppliers are injecting formalin to all imported fish from outside the state.
“The fisheries department  has to  wake up  to work  together  with  fish sellers  in the market  not only in Shillong  including the  twelve districts in the state to find out  whether  fish suppliers applying formalin to all the  fish coming from outside,” he said.
He added that the  fisheries officials have to work hard and make sure that the fish  coming from outside the state are fit for consumption  otherwise  the department  has to stop importing fish for the health benefit of the people of the state.