the goan I network
MARGAO
The Congress party threw a gauntlet at the government over the formalin in fish controversy by demanding that the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) appoint FDA officer Iva Fernandes at the wholesale fish market to check the imported fish, saying Goans have faith and trust in Iva than any other officer.
While refuting allegations levelled by the President of Wholesale Fish Market Association M Ibrahim, the Congress went a step further to demand that imported fish is brought not by insulated vehicles, but by reefer, refrigerated containers to ensure that the ice temperatures is maintained as per norms.
Flanked by district president, Joe Dias, party leaders Subhash Faldesai, Parag Raikar and Aldrin Dias, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar said FDA officer Iva Fernandes, who exposed the formalin episode, should be deputed at the wholesale fish market if the government is serious in addressing the issue. “Goans have faith only in Iva. Let the government make her the wholesale fish market in-charge to check fish,” Girish demanded.
While refuting the allegations levelled by Ibrahim, Girish said the Congress cannot be blamed for the controversy, saying the row had erupted after FDA officer
had exposed the traders for importing fish laced with
formalin.
“The controversy has hit enormous proportions because of interference by the Ministers and the pressure brought on the FDA to change the report, saying that formalin found was within permissible limits when there’s no such thing as permissible limits,” he said.
Virtually challenging Ibrahim to prove the claim that 5,000 people have been rendered jobless from November 1 with the stop in the fish imports, Girish urged the wholesale fish market president to submit details of the employees, the addresses of the traders, and whether they hail from Goa or outside. Demanding that the government hand over the wholesale fish market to the traditional fishermen from Goa, he said the people of Goa have faith in the
local fishermen than these outside traders.
On the export of fish, Girish said that since the government is paying around Rs 60-70 crore of subsidy to the fishermen, including the boat owners, the government should ban the export of fish, especially fish varieties which are consumed by the people of Goa.
