Team Herald
PORVORIM: Congress legislators on Tuesday brought to the notice of the House that three trucks with fish laden on it have entered Goa from Karwar, despite government imposing ban on import of fish into the State. They also said that police refused to take action, after locals detained the trucks.
Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavalekar and Congress’ Cuncolim MLA Clafasio Dias said that three trucks of fish were detained by locals at Cuncolim Industrial Estate at 3.30 a.m. and that they continue to be in the industrial area. “We would like to know how the trucks have entered the State, despite the ban and why no action is initiated,” they asked.
Dias said that police on the spot refused to take any action, as the trucks entered the industrial estate. “We fear, that locals, who are not able to afford the fish with skyrocketing prices, may buy the fish, which we suspect is formalin laced,” the MLA said.
Replying to the same, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, in a shocking submission, said that government has imposed ban on import of fish for sale and consumption only. “There is no ban on using the fish as raw material. In Cuncolim there are two fish mills and I suppose, the fish that has entered is raw material for the industry,” he said.
He even said that the government doesn’t make checks of raw material for fish meal.
The Opposition, anguished with the reply, demanded that government cannot limit the ban jurisdiction as it has to be in toto. They demanded that government should deploy officers at the industrial estate to ensure such acts are not repeated and action is taken on those three trucks.
Agreeing to the demand, Chief Minister said that he will take necessary steps.
Meanwhile Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco has demanded that the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) be given an autonomous status with absolute powers to act tough without interference.
The MLA also demanded that an inquiry be conducted on the spending under the Deen Dayal Swasth Seva Yojana (DDSSY) while claiming that the same funds could have been used to upgrade facilities at Goa Medical College (GMC).
“The FDA should be given the autonomous status with absolute powers without interference. Today the cases are increasing related to fruits, vegetables and fish.”
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Whom is Govt protecting, asks Congress
Congress has raised doubts over seriousness of the Government towards formalin-fish issue as it questions whom the government intends to protect.
Speaking to media persons, Congress MLAs were fumed with government failure to seriously deal with fish-formalin issue, as they pointed out that three trucks laden with fish entered State, despite ban on import since July 18.
“Government is not serious at all on the issue and we can see that. Government is playing with the health of 15 lakh population. We can see that government is indirectly protecting someone in the entire episode,” Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar said.
Pointing to the war of words between TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on the fiasco, Kavlekar said ‘the Minister’s statement itself proves there is something fishy’.
