PANAJI
Several restaurants and supermarkets in the state reported that they had to turn down their customers who ordered beef. Beef retail shops too have remained closed for the last two days as meat traders are unable to source meat from their Karnataka suppliers.
Michael Carrasco, President, All Goa Bars & Restaurants Owners Association, said, "The lack of beef is affecting all of us and we really don't know what to do. In South Goa, a very high percentage of people consume beef. As a result, restaurants in South were particularly affected. We can't be deprived of our business like this."
When asked if there is any other way to source beef, Carrasco replied, "Everyone, including restaurants and supermarkets, buy beef from local vendors only. If local vendors are not able to supply beef, we all will have a problem. We request the state government to resolve this issue as soon as possible."
What makes matters worse for restaurants is the fact that they are in the middle of the tourism season, wherein tourists from all over the world come to Goa. In January, a lot of foreign tourists have come to Goa and they all prefer beef. Due to this, unavailability of beef means huge loss of business for restaurants.
Meanwhile, supermarkets too are struggling. Anil Pereira from Delfino's (a major supermarket in Porvorim), said, "We have a huge cold storage in which we store beef. This is the reason we are able to supply beef to our customers. However, our stocks will last only for the next two to three days. After that, our stocks will not last."
Of all the supermarkets in Goa, Delfino's has the biggest cold storage. Most other supermarkets in and around Panaji were already struggling with hardly any quantity of beef left with them.
A staff at a prominent supermarket in Panaji said, "Most of our beef stock was exhausted yesterday (January 7). We are left with only little bit of beef undercut."
Several restaurants and supermarkets in the state reported that they had to turn down their customers who ordered beef. Beef retail shops too have remained closed for the last two days as meat traders are unable to source meat from their Karnataka suppliers.
Michael Carrasco, President, All Goa Bars & Restaurants Owners Association, said, "The lack of beef is affecting all of us and we really don't know what to do. In South Goa, a very high percentage of people consume beef. As a result, restaurants in South were particularly affected. We can't be deprived of our business like this."
When asked if there is any other way to source beef, Carrasco replied, "Everyone, including restaurants and supermarkets, buy beef from local vendors only. If local vendors are not able to supply beef, we all will have a problem. We request the state government to resolve this issue as soon as possible."
What makes matters worse for restaurants is the fact that they are in the middle of the tourism season, wherein tourists from all over the world come to Goa. In January, a lot of foreign tourists have come to Goa and they all prefer beef. Due to this, unavailability of beef means huge loss of business for restaurants.
Meanwhile, supermarkets too are struggling. Anil Pereira from Delfino's (a major supermarket in Porvorim), said, "We have a huge cold storage in which we store beef. This is the reason we are able to supply beef to our customers. However, our stocks will last only for the next two to three days. After that, our stocks will not last."
Of all the supermarkets in Goa, Delfino's has the biggest cold storage. Most other supermarkets in and around Panaji were already struggling with hardly any quantity of beef left with them.
A staff at a prominent supermarket in Panaji said, "Most of our beef stock was exhausted yesterday (January 7). We are left with only little bit of beef undercut."
