Arunachal locals ask for ban on meat, fish import from Assam's COVID-19 hotspots

ITANAGAR: People at Banderdawa area in Arunachal demanded ban of fish, meat imports from Assam's COVID-19 hotspots. A protest was organised at a checkpoint asking for ban of such products.

“Banderdawa being the gateway to the state capital and located in interstate boundary has become more vulnerable as far as further transmission of the COVID-19 virus is concerned. It is imperative to take stringent precautionary measures to contain any possible outbreak of disease," said Tache Lombi, General Secretary, All Arunachal Pradesh Gaonbura-Gaonburi Welfare Association (AAPGGWA).

There were claims that people were sneaking into territory at night.

Meanwhile, the State Agriculture Department has advised the Deputy Commissioners of all districts in Arunachal Pradesh to review the functioning of the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) to deal with a shortage of vegetables in the markets amid the nationwide lockdown.

In a letter to the Deputy Commissioners, Agriculture and Horticulture Secretary Bidol Tayeng said shipments of vegetables from Assam have either been stopped or are not coming in due to lack of transportation, leading to a general shortage in the State.

He said that while the situation in most districts is “manageable” as vegetables from rural areas are finding their markets in the district towns, the situation in the State capital is “acute."

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