PANJIM: The Congress party has apprehended that fish laced with formalin have once again made an entry into the Goan markets as its independent sample test confirmed presence of the chemical.
“We, the Congress leaders, purchased mackerel and modoshi from the Margao market and gave it for testing at a reputed private laboratory in Margao. The report showed 2 ppm formaldehyde in mackerel while the test parameter was ‘not detected’ in modoshi. It is self-explanatory,” Congress President Girish Chodankar said at a press conference on Sunday.
Claiming that the party does not intend to politicise the issue or blame the government, he however urged that Pramod Sawant-led government to ensure that the health of the people is not put to risk.
“We will continue to test the fish samples and expose the government, fish mafia and whoever else is behind it. The government should at least now wake up and not play with the health of the people,” he said adding that they have been receiving complaints about fish preserved in formalin being sold in Goan markets at the time when the State is observing 61-day long ban during the monsoon season.
The party leaders further said that the issue is being discussed since last one year when formalin in fish was exposed by Food & Drugs Administration officer followed by ban on imports of fish from other States. However, Chodankar added, the government has failed to set up state of the art laboratory for testing as promised to the people.
Meanwhile, the party has slammed the government for holding public hearing into the draft report on CRZ notification 2011 while trying to keep low profile the controversial CRZ 2019 notification.
Party spokesperson Amarnath Ponjikar has demanded that the public hearing be kept on hold alleging that government was attempting to push projects in the villages.
