PANJIM: Amidst the ongoing controversy of formalin in fish, the State Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar has announced to form a special squad to check the trucks carrying fish from the neighbouring States before they enter Goa, from next week.
Palyekar said that a joint team of fisheries and Directorate of Foods and Drug Administration (FDA) will be deputed on the State borders to check the fish consignments.
“I will be issuing the directions in this regard to Director Fisheries on Wednesday. The teams will inspect all the trucks carrying fish and samples would be drawn to check whether they are treated with formalin. On-the-spot checks would be done,” he said.
“If we find even a small content of formalin, then we will confiscate the entire consignment and dispose it off on the spot,” the minister added.
Palyekar said that department will monitor all the trucks entering the State with fish and will take all the necessary strict action. “Almost 95 per cent of people in Goa eat fish. Fish being a staple food is very close to people’s heart. And it becomes our duty to ensure we give quality fish to our people,” he stated.
The minister pointed out that the confusion in the FDA report of the recent raid has created kind of fear in the minds of people, who have even stopped consuming fish. “We will ensure that good fish is made available to the people,” he said.
Palyekar also reiterated that the State will set up Fisheries Corporation in next two-three months, which will aim at providing good quality fish at subsidised rates.
“Fisheries Corporation will be set within next two-three months. The file has already been cleared. My aim is that Goans should get fish at subsidised rates. Also at time of ban period, the corporation itself will import good quality fish for people,” he informed.
The State is currently witnessing a debate over formalin in fish after FDA, during their raid on July 12 at wholesale market in Margao, initially claimed that the fish was laced with formalin. Later FDA had withdrawn the report claiming that the chemical was within permissible limits.
