KENDRAPARA:Price of the delicious Hilsa fish has skyrocketed to `800 per kg in markets of the coastal district and its nearby areas. Not more than three weeks back, 1 kg of Hilsa was being sold between `150 and `200.
Even as the price of Hilsa is shooting up, a large number of fishermen are ruing missing out the chance to reap profits. Fish traders attribute the high price to lack of storage facilities in the fishing harbours and jetties.
“Non-availability of sufficient cold storage facilities at the fish landing centre is the main reason behind fluctuation of Hilsa price,” said Ganesh Mandal, a fish trader of Rajnagar.
Not long ago, the landing centres at Jamboo, Kharinashi and several others were abuzz with fishermen and traders as boats returned with a plenty of Hilsa. But recently, the catch has dropped drastically, said another fish merchant Badal Behera.
‘’It is high time the Government built cold storages and ice plants near the fishing villages and towns to store Hilsa and other seafood after a good catch,” said president of Odisha Masyajibi Forum Narayan Haldar.