MARGAO: While the Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) had issued a statement claiming they inspect the transportation of fish at the Margao Railway Station, no authorities, including the FDA were seen inspecting the fish that arrived at the station early Sunday morning. The fish was later transported to be sold outside the South Goa wholesale fish market in Fatorda.
The fish was stored in thermacol boxes, which were not properly covered, exposing the seafood to flies and the ambient temperature. According to complainants, this is against the standard practice of fish being transported in insulated containers. Furthermore, the quality of the fish appeared to be poor, but there were no authorities to verify this or stop the fish from being sent to hawkers outside the wholesale fish market.
This raises questions if the fish being transported into Goa from other States via the railways, is being tested for formalin, given the gaps in surveillance observed at the Margao Railway Station.
On Sunday, the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) continued its drive against migrant vendors outside the wholesale fish market. MMC inspector Santo Fernandes said his team had found unauthorised vendors trying to hide outside the market. Fernandes said the seafood in their containers, including mackerels and prawns, was in terrible condition and had to be disposed off at Sonsoddo as they were not fit for consumption.
Sebastiana Cardozo, a Goan fish vendor from the SGPDA retail market lauded the drive. “Finally, action is being taken against such illegal activity. This would benefit not just the local vendors but also the customers,” she said.