KUSHTIA. June 5 Scarcity of fish in local markets lias, been acute for quite sometimes adversely affecting food habit of common people.

It is leamt that many varieties of fish have now become costlier item due to small supply. higher demand.

According to a survey report native curp like ruhl. mrigal and katla. have almost disappeared from markets while magur. singi. koi. puti, tengra. maya,,khallsa have followed suit much earlier. Even some varieties of sea fish available in plenty few years ago _are no longer available. There were times when these fish were abundantly available at nominal price.

Same is the case with ex Otic curp like grass, silver and mirror curp. Prices of these varieties have shot up abnormally with the availability becoming rare everyday

Small size hillsha is occasionally available in the fish .markets In small quantity. But prices remain* high It is also learnt that the picture prevailing in rural hats and bazars are no better. Fish of any variety have now become luxury food.

Knowledgeable circles say that days are not far-off when consumers will have to forget this item.

Another source says that production of fingerlings has been drastically hampered after many of the bee(s. khals. ponds, boors and rivers have dried up following unilateral withdrawal of Gangqs water by Indian authority through Farakka barrage.

Indiscriminate and widespread use of insecticide?, including Dieldron, Albron. Hep-tacolar. Chlorodyne. Thipdin. Tynol and Hilfish in agriculture fields have also contributed to deaths of fish habitat.

Kushtia is noted for having a good number of water bodies which are used for pisciculture projects throughout the district. Some of the water bodies are used for fish development under World Bank loan with a determine effort to boost fish production In massive quantity purely on scientific method to meet local deficit and supply the surplus to other markets of the country.

In second phase some more water bodies will be taken up for acquaculture to cover deficit In the district under IFAD. fund.