GUWAHATI, April 19 - The Assam Apex Cooperative Fish Marketing and Processing Federation Ltd (Fishfed) has started selling fish in mobile vans at Pandu-Maligaon, Narengi-Noonmati, and Dispur areas of the city by following all government advisories on COVID-19.
Earlier, during the lockdown, Fishfed � a State-level cooperative federation of primary fishery and pisciculture societies of Assam under the Fisheries Department � had been selling fish only at its retail outlet in Rupnagar.
�The Kamrup (Metro) district administration had arranged for sale of local fish at the Rupnagar outlet of Fishfed to the nearby residents from April 10. However, on April 15, we received permission to sell fish in three areas of the city in mobile vans. People are getting varieties of local and fresh fish at a specific price here,� Managing Director of Fishfed Dr Dhruva Jyoti Sharma said.
�The Fishfed has cooperative societies under its control and these societies are supplying the fish. We are not compromising with hygiene and social distancing. The vehicles used for carrying fish are being sanitised every day. Social distancing is being strictly maintained at the Fishfed outlet,� he said.
Fishfed sells nearly 2,500 kg of local fish every day.
�To maintain hygiene at our retail booth, we always provide aprons, caps, hand gloves and other equipment to our salespersons and other staff engaged in marketing. We are following the same during the lockdown as well,� he said.
Currently, fish is being sold in the city through Fishfed and also under the supervision of the District Fishery Development Officer (DFDO).
�The DFDO had tied up with three bazar committees of Uzanbazar, Pandu and Bhetapara to make fish available in the city. The wholesale suppliers bring fish from different sources and the assigned vendors collect the fish from the wholesalers for door-to-door delivery,� he said.
Many vendors are also selling fish without permission violating the advisories issued by the district administration. �The administration should take stern action against them,� he said.
