PANJIM: Five boxes containing fish were unloaded from a Goa registered inter-state bus during the morning hours of Saturday, indicating that unscrupulous elements are resorting to alternate method to transport fish into Goa.
The members of the Margao Wholesale Fish Market Association (MWFMA) intercepted the Goa-Mumbai-Goa bus GA-03-N-5670 near Merces Circle at around 8.15 am to find that five huge boxes were loaded in the baggage compartment. As per information shared with the media, the boxes were loaded in the bus in Mumbai by one Pratap More of Sawantwadi. The stock was supposed to be unloaded at Mapusa and mistakenly brought to Goa, leading to the illegal fish import’s expose.
“The Old Goa police were immediately alerted. The police sent the boxes to the Food & Drugs Administration for testing and investigation,” an officer said. More has been asked to report to the FDA for the purpose of investigation.
Citing this incident, the Association has demanded that inter-state buses illegally transporting fish into Goa face cancellation of permits. “We demand that the permit of these buses be cancelled as they are indulging in illegal activities. If no action is taken against them, they will continue doing so. The Association members can’t keep on checking each and every bus that arrives in Goa from Maharashtra and Karnataka. If FDA Minister Vishwajit Rane fails to take any action, then we would consider that Rane is involved in this illegal trade. The way he has decided to act against wholesale fish traders, he should also act against these buses,” the association said in a press statement issued later in the day.
Owing to FDA checks at the borders to stop transportation of fish into Goa if they fail to comply with the guidelines, the association charged that unknown people are using inter-state buses to ensure ‘inferior quality and spoilt fish are imported into the State.’ “If this fish is sold in the market, then the entire trade would get bad name. Fish Industry is already facing problems due to FDA’s attitude. We don’t want industry to get spoilt further,” the association stated.
The members reiterated they are willing to complete all the formalities required by FDA but need time as government agencies such as SGPDA and Margao Municipality are yet to grant NOC.
“We expect Rane to ensure that the trade does not suffer and take action against these buses carrying fish,” it said.
