MARGAO: The slogan of today’s meeting is stop formalin and start fish sale, said Maulana Ibrahim while briefing the press after the meeting of the Wholesale Fish Market Association.
“We have written to the Chief Secretary and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane to ask for a meeting. We have asked them to set up an FDA laboratory in every fish market to build confidence in the public.”, said Ibrahim. He questioned whether the issue will be solved if the vehicles are stopped at the borders.
“We will agree for all the conditions laid down by FDA. But we need a lab to test the fish as well as vegetables, meat etc”. He said that the association has decided not to import fish from tomorrow but they will have a meeting at Azad Maidan, Panjim on Saturday if the issue is not resolved.
“If Vishwajeet is saying that fish caught in Goa is enough for the market, I welcome his decision. We won’t import fish from other states. 90% of fish caught in Goa is exported to Kerala since Goans don’t eat that fish. But the government should call us and solve the issue. We are ready to meet and find a solution.”, informed Ibrahim. Ibrahim clarified that they are not blackmailing the government.
With regards to the formalin controversy, Ibrahim questioned the press whether they had found formalin in the fish. “The factories in Tamil Nadu are not comparable to the factories in Goa. They are far ahead. The highest exports to USA is from Andhra Pradesh and USA. Each exporter is exporting Rs 1000 crores. Every six months FDA from USA visits the factories.”
When Herald asked Ibrahim what is the daily or monthly economic loss faced by the 140-odd wholesalers as a result of the ban on imports, Maulana Ibrahim stated that he cannot give the turnover figures in rupees. “I cannot say the turnover figures. I can say the volume in kilos. It depends on the fish value”, he said.
When pressed on the exact figure of loss for each wholesaler, Ibrahim responded stating that the wholesaler is only losing his income which is a reasonable income. “It is not Crores what people are talking in the media and social media. Every day there are 30-40 trucks arriving in Goa which amount to a total of 40-50 tonnes per day”, he said.
Ibrahim informed that the ban on fish import will affect the tourism industry. He said that the government should allow both insulated vehicles as well as open vehicles. “We have to allow open trucks coming from nearby States within 500kms. Let FDA check the fish once it arrives”, he said.
“The Margao Municipality are not giving us the licence to operate. Neither the elected members from the Council nor the MLA is bothered about Goans. Everybody is playing an irresponsible role in this”, said Ibrahim.
The Margao Retail Fish Vendors Association president Felix Gonsalves said that they will join the wholesalers once their stock is sold out in the market. “The price of fish caught in Goa has shot up. We can’t close the market.”, he said.
