PONDA: Since the time the media broke the news that the fish being sold in the Goan markets is unsafe as the same is laced with formalin, a cancer inducing chemical, most consumers in Ponda have stopped visiting the fish market in the town, giving it a deserted look.
However, vendors selling local fish varieties are doing brisk business and doubled the price.
On a visit to the usually bustling market, few consumers were seen purchasing fish; even the vendors themselves did not turn up to conduct their business. Enquiries with the vendors revealed that the ban on import and sale of fish from other States is also a major reason for the situation.
It may be noted that after the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) detected that fish imported from other States were laced with formalin to increase its shelf-life, there was a huge uproar in the print and social media. Consequently, on July 18, Goa government banned the import and sale of fish from other States for a period of 15 days.
As the result of the ban on fish from other States, currently vendors are selling only locally harvested verity. However, their prices have doubled due to fish scarcity; local verity shevto was sold at Rs 500 per portion, ladyfish (Muddushi) anywhere between Rs 500 and Rs 300 per portion and burate for Rs 100 per portion. Besides, three frozen mackerels were sold at Rs 100; frozen verloe was sold at Rs 100 per portion and local prowns variety was sold at Rs 100 per portion.
Vendors Naresh Naik and Abdul complained that they had to dispose of the fish brought from Margao wholesale market due to the formalin scare.
