VIJAYAWADA: With the imposition of ban on import of fish from AP into their States, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday wrote letters to his counterparts in Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland Sarbananda Sonowal, Conrad Kongkal Sangma and Neiphiu Rio respectively and urged them to take a favourable decision after considering the fact that there is no truth in usage of formalin by aqua farmers of AP.
Mentioning that AP is a major exporter of fish to the North Eastern States and there is an amicable and reciprocal fish trade since long time between the States, he stated, “Due to recent incidences of adverse news reports in print and electronic media on usage of formalin as fish preservative in fish exported from other States to North Eastern States, and since AP being the major exporter of fish to your State, our fish exports to your State are badly affected.’’
Stating that aqua farmers and traders of AP have strongly denied the allegations of usage of formalin and are of the view that it is nothing but defaming the State brand in fish business in other States and to discourage the supplies from AP and also a ploy to reduce the market price, he said the AP government, in order to ensure that only quality fish (free of adulteration) is exported to other States, has taken several proactive measures.
“I, therefore, request your good office to consider the facts and extend full support by ascertaining the genuineness of the adverse news, depute technical teams from your State for quality check, arrange to initiate action against the persons responsible for damaging the image of our State fishery products and restore the good fish trade relations as existed earlier in the interest of large scale of fishers of our State and nutritional security of your State, Naidu said.
