Another nightmare for fish traders; FDA drives out trucks from wholesale market

MIDNIGHT MISERY
>> In another development, a number of insulated vehicles were stopped at Canacona and Pernem check posts after midnight for want of FDA licence
>> Those vehicles which managed to enter the wholesale fish market had all crossed the border into the State before midnight
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MARGAO: Midnight drama unfolded in Goa’s wholesale fish market after officials of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) descended on the market late Thursday night and directed the outstation insulated vehicles carrying fish to move out of the market.
While the drivers of around dozen vehicles moved out of the wholesale fish market for some time, they later drove into the market after the officials had left the place and conducted business till 9 in the morning.
In another development, a number of insulated vehicles were stopped entering the State at the border check posts at both Canacona and Pernem after 12 midnight for want of the FDA licence. Those vehicles which managed to enter the wholesale fish market had all crossed the border into the State before midnight.
The developments have left the wholesale fish traders with no option than to keep their fingers crossed on the arrival of the fish in the market from Saturday with the authorities not permitting a number of vehicles from entering the State at the Polem border.
President of the Wholesale Fish Market Association, Maulana Ibrahim said the FDA officials, who made their presence in the market around midnight, told the dozen odd trucks to move out of the market. “Since the vehicles were manned by the drivers, the vehicles were brought out on the road. However, there was no sign of the FDA officials in the market thereafter. When we all came to the market at around 2 am, there was no testing of the fish and no sign of the FDA in the market," he said.
The dozen insulated vehicles are believed to have brought in the prized kingfish as well as mackerals, sole fish and other varieties netted along the Konkan coast in neighbouring Maharashtra.
A wholesale fish agent Joaquim Borges was sore over the decision of authorities to suddenly stop the arrival of the insulated trucks into Goa. “One of my container was stopped at the border check post last night. Only the few trucks which crossed the border before midnight managed to come into the wholesale fish market. I do not know what would happen to the fish inside the container if the vehicle is not allowed to enter the State," Joaquim said.
To a question, he pointed out that the authorities are stopping the vehicles at the border on ground that the vehicles have no FDA licence.