ELURU: Due to the negligence of officials, chicken and mutton waste is finding its way to fish ponds in Kolleru area in West Godavari district, polluting surrounding areas and directly affecting consumers.
Fish pond owners in Kolleru area of Sriparru, Manuru, Kalakurru, Gudivakalanka and other villages used to feed fish in the ponds in natural way or purchase the aquafeed in the market. Ever since the feed has become costly, the aqua farmers are now finding other ways to feed fish, one of them being using chicken and mutton waste from hotels.
Some pond owners who breed the banned catfish or fungus fish, are using the chicken and mutton waste available in hotels. Now, the owners are using the waste as well as stale biryani to raise other fish species like Korameenu, Tella Chepa, etc. The chicken and mutton waste are being illegally transported in trucks to fish ponds in Kolleru in the early hours or at night to avoid checking.
The aqua pond owners are purchasing stale biryani, chicken and mutton waste at the rate of Rs 5 per kg from non-vegetarian hotels. Some hotel owners are offering the waste to aqua pond owners free of cost instead of disposing it off. The method has proved more profitable for the owners as the fish fed on the waste gain weight quickly. They sell the fish in the retail market in the city unmindful of the health hazards posed by it to consumers.
Many a times police had seized vehicles transporting such waste on the outskirts of the city. However, in recent times, no such checks are being conducted by the officials concerned to prevent the illegal transport of the waste. The unhealthy practice is posing a grave threat to the environment.
Dr A Harikrishna, Civil Assistant Surgeon of Government Hospital, said that people who consume fish fed on waste may suffer from ulcers, kidney problems and skin allergy. People who consume such fish on a regular basis may suffer from ulcers which lead to cancer. He suggested people not to consume fish fed on chicken.
Speaking to TNIE, Deputy Director of Fisheries S Anjali said: “Following several complaints about the use of chicken and mutton waste as feed, we have distributed pamphlets in Kolleru area cautioning people about its harmful effects. If aqua farmers continue the use of chicken and mutton waste to rear fish, we will take stringent action against them.”
Biryani also as feed
Stale and leftover biryani collected from non-vegetarian hotels is also being used as fish feed by some aqua farmers As fish fed on chicken and mutton waste gain weight quickly, aqua farmers have started reaping good harvest at the expense of consumers’ health.