Quackery alert: Biplab Deb says ducks can ‘increase oxygen-level’ in water bodies

Tripura CM Biplab Deb is back with another pearl of wisdom. After saying that he wanted to distribute ducks, believing that they were great for the environment since they ‘increased oxygen levels in water bodies’.

Showing why he was a sitting duck for online commentators, the Tripura CM, while addressing an inaugural event of a traditional boat race at Rudrasagar, said: “When ducks swim in water, oxygen level automatically increases in the waterbody. It (oxygen) gets recycled. Fish in the water will get more oxygen. They also benefit from the bird droppings. Thus, pisciculture will benefit and fishes will grow faster, that too in a completely organic way.”

Earlier this year, Deb made a series of gaffes. The Tripura chief minister claimed that ancient Indians had access to the internet and artificial satellites in the age of the Mahabharata. He claimed Gautam Buddha walked over the sea to Japan and former Miss World Diana Hayden was unworthy of being a beauty pageant winner.

He had suggested the youth of the state, especially the educated section, not to run behind politicians for government jobs, rather become self-employed by starting various projects under the animal resource sector with bank loans, under the Prime Minister's Mudra scheme.

"The youth here runs after political parties for several years to get a govt job and wastes the vital time of their life, had the same youth instead of running after parties set up a paan shop he would have by now had a bank balance of Rs 5 lakhs," said Deb.

He also batted for keeping cows in every household saying: “Every household should have a cow. Milk costs Rs 50 per litre. Keep a cow a home. A graduate spends 10 years looking for a job. If they kept a cow for 10 years, they’d have Rs 10 lakh in the bank.”