TEAM HERALD
VASCO: Assurances given by Goa Meat Complex (GMC) to supply beef by Saturday was received in bad taste, as the meat did not find favour with the consumers since it was frozen.
The meat which was made available through cold storages did not find favour with consumers who preferred fresh meat which was hitherto sold fresh through beef stalls.
Cold storages received first consignment of beef on Saturday after almost two months. Resumption of beef supply by GMC brought some cheers among the beef consumers. However, beef consumers, who went to the cold storages, were in for a rude shock, as the beef was frozen.
Speaking to Herald, Josephine Vas, who used to buy fresh beef regularly, said when she purchases meat from the beef stall, it is fresh and has some quantity of fat in it, while the frozen meat though clean, lacks fat.
“Through beef stalls, one can buy bones to extract stock to prepare soup which is not available at the cold storages. The government is taking the minority community for a ride and it won’t be too long for them to realise their mistake in the ZP election and assembly election in 2017,” she said.
Blanch Rodrigues said she went to the beef stall with the hope that she could cook some beef dishes for the family after a long time, but was in for a rude shock to notice that the consignment was frozen.
“It looks like the government is fooling the people. I feel these beef parcels are from Maharashtra, as beef is banned in that state and the government diverted the meat to Goa. Mere look at the meat gives an impression that the meat is pretty old,” she added.
Another customer, Orlando Pereira, who had to return empty handed from the cold storage, said by providing frozen beef, the government is not too keen in starting the GMC and supply fresh meat. “I feel the government is slowly trying to shut down GMC and is planning to ban beef in Goa to satisfy fringe elements,” Pereira alleged.
“If the government does not consider starting GMC and provide fresh beef in Goa, then like Congress, the BJP should also get ready to face defeat in the 2017 assembly election,” Pereira warned.
While the beef consumers had to go home empty handed, cold storage owners have assured that they can buy the meat on Sunday.
