PATNA: Fish markets across the city wore a deserted look on Tuesday following a ban imposed on its sale, transport and storage in the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) area for 15 days. The health department announced the ban on Monday after cancer-causing formalin and other heavy metals were found in the fish available in Patna markets. However, vendors were seen selling fish in certain localities, but they had only very few buyers.Patna DM Kumar Ravi said the health department’s order was circulated among all the officials concerned to check fish trade in PMC area. But an officer said there is no advise as how to dump the fish found in the markets.Fish traders rued the sudden ban on all kinds of fish as they were in for heavy losses. They have planned to meet CM Nitish Kumar on January 18 to immediately sort out their problem or else they would stage protests throughout the state. Bihar Machli Vyavasayi Sangh president Anuj Kumar said trucks carrying fish from Andhra Pradesh worth Rs4 crore were on way as the order was placed only a day before the ban. “Even if the trucks are diverted to other towns and cities in state, we are bound to suffer a loss of Rs1.25 crore. Similarly, local fish worth Rs25 lakh fished out for sale in the state capital a day before will go waste now,” he said.Anuj said they tried to minimize the losses by sending the stock from Patna to Muzaffarpur Darbhanga and Samastipur after the ban. “Still, we were left with around 2.5 tonne fish which had to be dumped at the Ramachak Bairiya dumping yard on Tuesday because storage has also been prohibited,” he said.Bachhu Sahni (50), who has been selling fish for the past 30 years at Boring Road crossing, was sitting idle. “I came to know that we will be sent to jail for seven years and have to pay Rs10 lakh fine. So, I did not buy fish from the wholesale market today. I had 5kg left yesterday which my family members cooked,” he said.Even consumers got scared after reading about the harmful chemicals found in the fish. “I used to cook fish at least twice a week. Now I am scared. I had stopped egg and chicken because of bird flu and now I can’t cook fish, too,” said Rajendra Nagar resident Chanda Jha.Farzana Imam, a homemaker, said she cooked fish for her kids because of high nutrition value. “I used to buy local fish. But these too contain heavy metals. If government starts checking fruits and vegetables, I am sure they will detect harmful chemicals in these items also. A few people for income are playing with the health of others. Government, instead of punishing fish sellers, should actually catch big traders who are using chemicals,” she said.Ban takes political colour: The fish ban also has taken political colour. Newly formed Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) general secretary Chhotu Sahni said the state government was trying to arm-twist the fishermen’s community after their leader Mukesh Sahni raised his voice for their rights. “They got the report of formalin-laced fish two months back, but kept quiet. Now, all of a sudden, they are alert before the general assembly election,” said Sahni. He also demanded proper fish markets in the state. “Fish sellers should be provided with iceboxes to preserve fish. Bihar has enough water bodies, but we are dependent on other states for fish. This shows the state government’s failure,” he added.

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