AGARTALA: Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb, whose gaffes earlier drew a lot of flak, is in the news again, for saying that the ducks raise the oxygen level in water bodies when they swim — an observation with which the agricultural scientists agree.“When ducks swim, they recycle water automatically and fish get more oxygen. Fish also benefit from duck droppings. This will help pisciculture and fish grow faster, that too in a completely organic way,” the CM said while inaugurating a boat race at Rudrasagar, an artificial lake around Neermahal , a water palace in West Tripura district, on Monday.Avideo clip being circulated on social media shows Deb talking about the state government’s plan to distribute 50,000 white ducklings to the fishermen of Neermahal to enhance the beauty of the place.Deb says duck-rearing will boost the rural economy, increase the level of dissolved oxygen in water and also recycle water. Sharp and quick in their reactions, Twitterati and other social media users mocked the CM, calling his statement “mindboggling and foolish”.The CM was unavailable for comment. Defending Deb, BJP spokesperson Victor Som, an agri-science graduate, said, “The CM is not a scientist. Whatever he wanted to communicate was clear from his statement. For a common man, purification of water means increase of the oxygen level in the water bodies. But the way the social media portrayed his statement is completely misleading.”

Stay updated with all the Agartala Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.