Team Herald
PANJIM: Alleging that they are being harassed by the government, especially by the Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), fish traders and vendors across the State will gather at Azad Maidan in Panjim on Monday, to discuss the problems they are facing due to restrictions imposed on vehicles importing fish into Goa, leading to an indirect ban on fish imports. The fish traders claimed that the indirect ban has left around 5000-10,000 dependents jobless.
The wholesale traders and vendors attached to Margao Wholesale Fish Market Association, on Friday demanded that FDA set up testing facilities at the wholesale fish market in Margao and also all the retail fish markets, which will help rebuild confidence among consumers that they are getting chemical-free fish. While demanding a ban on formalin, which they claim is sold openly, the traders urged the government to take them into confidence
before going ahead with any decision.
The fishing community has blamed the opposition Congress for creating unnecessary fear in the minds of people that the fish they consume is laced with formalin. They said that internal political rivalry has affected their business and livelihood.
Addressing media persons, Association’s head Ibrahim Maulana said they don’t mind adhering to the guidelines proposed by FDA but due to the adamant behaviour of the local bodies like Margao Municipal Council (MMC) and South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA), it is turning impossible to provide documents required to get the licences from the State government.
“As per directions of FDA, who asked us to get NOC from the municipality and PDA, we approached the authorities, who declined to give us NOC without any valid reason. MMC meeting is now scheduled on November 9 to decide on the issue,” he said, adding, “If they don’t grant us NOC, what should we do?”
Maulana pointed out that the indirect ban on fish import that has been enforced for a week and has left nearly 5000-10,000 people dependent on the industry jobless. “Nearly 85 percent of the local fish catch goes as export as that fish is never consumed by locals here. With no import, only 15 percent fish is left for local consumption.”
He said that FDA should set up laboratories in the fish markets to ensure that the product sold is bereft of formalin, rather than stopping the trucks at the border. “Also, why is there need for insulated vehicles to import fish from Kerala, Malvan, Vengurla, Devgad, which is hardly three-four hours distance? We have no issue to have insulated vehicles to get fish from far away,” Maulana said.
Maulana said that there is no formalin in the fish and the fear has been unnecessarily created resulting in the ban. “We demand that the production of the chemical called formalin itself be banned so that the entire suspicion will go. Banning fish (import) is not a solution,” he said.
He said that all the fish traders and vendors will gather at Azad Maidan on Monday to decide the future course of action.
Retail Fish Traders Association President Felix Gonsalves accused the Congress of creating unnecessary fear in the minds of people on the formalin issue. “If Congress is really concerned about the people of Goa, then why did it never bother to approach the fishermen and talk to them to know what is the exact issue? They created more fear. People look at us like (we were) criminals,” he stated.
Mapusa fish trader Shashikala Govekar said the market has worn a deserted look and that people insult and humiliate them questioning them every time asking whether there is formalin in the fish. “It pains us so much,” she lamented.
