PANJIM: After Tourism Minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar and Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo, Speaker Pramod Sawant has raised a red flag on the fish import ban.
Emerging out of the meeting with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar at his private residence in Dona Paula, Sawant said he has sought the immediate intervention of the CM in the matter as it is hurting Goans badly.
“Goan fish industry is totally disturbed the tourism season is in full flow. I told the CM in the meeting today to intervene in the fish ban issue and come up with a solution,” Sawant said.
Sawant said he also informed the Chief Minister that Goa is facing a loss of crores of rupees as fish exports too have stopped.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said he will not change his decision based on what the Speaker feels.
“Opinion of the Speaker is not binding on me. I briefed CM Parrikar on Friday about the fish ban issue by meeting him in person,” Rane said, reacting to Sawant’s request to the CM to intervene in the fish ban matter. “We will go step by step,” Rane asserted.
