Team Herald
PANJIM: After nearly three years of introducing the first mobile fish vans in the State, the Fisheries Department has added four more to the existing fleet of five operating across different parts of North and South Goa. The vehicles have been purchased under the Central sector scheme on Blue Revolution at a total cost of Rs 47, 26,800 out of which Rs 20 lakh is funded by the Centre and Rs 27, 26,800 by the State government.
“Our priority is to give the people of Goa good fish at affordable rates,” Minister for Fisheries Vend Palyenkar said after inaugurating the four Mobile Fish Stalls at the Fisheries Jetty in the capital on Friday. Director of Fisheries Vinesh Arlenkar informed that the department will give preference to self-help groups and to those associated with fishing related activities to run these vehicles.
The department, in 2015-16 had procured five Tata Winger Cargo vehicles as mobile fish stalls under National Fisheries Development Board wherein the 90 per cent cost of the total Rs 58.21 lakh approx was borne by the latter and 10 per cent by the State. These mobile vans were thereafter handed over to respective fishing co-operative societies/self help groups at Canacona, Mapusa, Vasco, Navelim and Mormugao.
The fisheries minister also said that the issue surrounding fish is over in Goa. “Formalin issue is non existent in Goa today. There are no complaints from fish buyers on the use of formalin in fish,” he said.
