Team Herald
PORVORIM: The Opposition as well as the ruling MLAs were united in their demand for action to be initiated against importers who import formalin-laced fish into the State and demanded construction of cold storages for Goa’s huge fish catch.
Congress MLA Pratasingh Rane stated that despite large quantities of fish catch by Goan fishermen, fish is still imported and called on the govt to build cold storages so that the extra fish is preserved.
Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro alleging that the fish mafia is killing Goans, said there is a rise in the number of cancer cases amongst those who consume fish. “ I demand that you construct cold storages in every taluka in the state”, he stated.
Demanding action against those who import formalin-laced fish, he questioned how many importers were booked for importing formalin laced fish after trucks of fish were found to be formalin laced. He added, “Deterrent action must be taken against the perpetrators and not against the honest officers.”
Panjim MLA Antonio Babush Monserrate attacking his own govtsaid that the fish being transported into Goa from different states of the country has formalin on it. “We need to build cold storages and we can be self-sufficient instead of depending on other states for fish”, he added. He further demanded that the Fisheries department launch kiosks on similar line of the Horticulture Dept to supply fish at cheaper prices. Santa Cruz MLA Tony Fernandes too expressed serious concern over the fish being consumed by Goans. Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa demanded a FDA office in the South Goa wholesale fish market at the earliest to keep a quality check. St Andre MLA Francis Silveira demanded that illegal fishing in the River Zuari by large canoes using purse seine fishing nets be checked and demanded the fulfillment of the pending demand for construction of a new fishing jetty in Vasco. Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco recalling that the former CM (late) Manohar Parrikar had moved back to State for the love of fish.He also demanded the govt decides on the use of LED lights for fishing. Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao, however spoke in favour of the use of LED lights for fishing but with restrictions. Demanding a ban on LED lights backed fishing activities, Babush said, “The government needs to ban LED in Goa and if it is not done then there will be a fish famine in the market.”
