Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government has ordered an inquiry into Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) ‘Designated Officer’ for South Goa Iva Fernandes’s report wherein she claimed that FDA Director Jyoti Sardessai overruled her report on formalin-laced fish on July 12 and cleared the fish samples for public consumption.
The officer, in her report, which was accessed under RTI, revealed that there was no need for a second test as she had enough evidence to confiscate the material but was forced to send the fish for a second test by the FDA Director. She revealed that the process of sending the fish for analysis in FDA laboratory was just eyewash to clear the fish for sale.
Addressing media persons, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said the government has ordered an inquiry under Additional Secretary Health, who is been asked to conduct a detailed investigation of the entire episode of July 12. “We will be recording statements of all the officers named in the report. Officers whose integrity is under question, action would be initiated,” he said.
The Minister, however, gave a clean chit to the Director stating that she is an upright, hardworking officer who works with full integrity.
Indirectly hinting at Fernandes, the Minister said ‘many people want positions in the department and also many are upset since I have stopped many illegal things that were happening around’.
“I don’t want to make any statement at this stage. Let the investigation be conducted and the report come to me,” he said, adding that the report is expected in 15 to 20 days. Rane assured to make the report public.
Early on July 12, a FDA team led by Fernandes had conducted a raid at Margao wholesale fish market and announced that the fish contained formalin. This had created much panic in the State. Later in the day, FDA released a fresh report stating that the formalin content was within permissible limit and the morning test was spot test.
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Taluka level FDA squads to be set up, says Minister
In a bid to expand the department’s functioning, the government is planning to set up taluka-wise FDA squads. A south Goa district office will also be set up shortly. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said the government is working towards expanding the department and for this more food safety officers would be recruited. He said there is tremendous work load and so need to cope with everything.
