Aqua pesticide shops raided in Akiveedu

Akiveedu: With the return of 40 containers of prawn exported from West Godavari, the Aqua Task Force officials raided aqua pesticide shops here on Thursday. 

They have been seizing the banned fertilizer stocks in the shops as the returned prawn supplies got infected with the fertilisers. The prawn stocks were rejected because of possibility of acquiring cancer, if the prawns were consumed.

Assistant director of fisheries department Sk Chand Basha informed newsmen that they had already warned the aqua pesticide shop owners not to sell the banned pesticides. Cases would be filed against the shop owners who violated orders and keeping stocks of banned pesticides.

He said that the aqua farmers had used banned pesticides because of ignorance and lack of awareness. The banned pesticides were the reason for spread of virus in prawns. Growing prawns in fish ponds was another reason for the virus, he said.

Four teams had been formed to carry out raids in the district. The raids were conducted on aqua pesticide shops in Narsapuram, Bhimavaram, Ganapavaram and Palakole mandals.

The exported prawn stocks from India during the past one month were sent back. Similarly, the exported prawn from West Godavari district last month were also rejected by the exporting countries, he added.