PANJIM: While Goa State Horticulture Corporation Ltd is bringing some respite to its consumers from the rising price of veggies, it has come under severe criticism over the poor quality of the perishable products sold at its outlets.
Several consumers have complained about “rotten” and “poor quality” vegetables at the carts even as the Corporation is blaming the post-monsoon showers for the poor quality of the vegetables. Interestingly, many GSHCL-carts lessees have too echoed the complaint alleging that they are being supplied poor quality of vegetables.
“The outlets are flooded with old and poor quality vegetables. Repeated complaints to the Corporation have fallen on deaf ears. For last three months we are being assured that the situation will improve. People buying vegetables from the outlets complain of poor quality but we are helpless,” an outlet lessee told Herald.
The lessees lamented that the Corporation has prohibited them from buying vegetables to sell at their carts. “We are deprived from buying vegetables from any wholesaler to put it up for sale at our carts. The Corporation has hired some contractors who supply vegetables to us but the quality is very bad. On the other hand, contractors supplying vegetables to vendors in the open markets surprisingly have good quality vegetables,” another lessee at St Inez said.
Some attempted not to depend on the contractors only to get a warning from the Corporation. “I once brought vegetables from the Belgaum market and the stock was comparatively better than the Corporation’s supply. But GSHCL officials warned me not to get vegetables other than the ones supplied to us,” the lessee added.
Many outlets, as a result have faced the ire of their consumers, who have even returned the vegetables after purchase. “I had a lady who came to me with rotten onions. She had purchased one kg onions the day before. I was helpless and asked her to visit the GSHCL with her complaint,” a woman cart lease holder said.
Admitting there are complaints, GSHCL Managing Director Larry Barreto claimed that the quality of veggies is improving except for onions, which is still facing the wrath of post-monsoon showers.
“The vegetables from Belgaum are in fact spoilt in the fields itself because of post-monsoon showers. The post-monsoon showers lasted for over a month so it is bound that the harvested crops would be spoilt,” he said.
The officer maintained that GSHCL officers have been regularly visiting Belgaum which itself is starving for good quality and sufficient quantity of vegetables. “During our visit to the Belgaum wholesale market recently, we found that carrots were being transported from Bangalore. At the time of harvesting it had been raining and hence the carrots were wet. In the same condition these were packed in bags for transport to Goa and its outer portion was damaged during transit. Similarly, the onion producing belt has also received heavy rains,” he justified.
The Corporation has assured that while the supply in the last couple of days have seen a positive difference, the condition of onions would be better in the next 8-10 days.
