the goan I network
MARGAO
In an interesting development, the Margao Municipal Council on Tuesday has made it clear to the wholesale fish traders that the civic body cannot issue trade licence to an umbrella organisation such as the Wholesale Fish Market Association and for traders engaged in business in an open space in the wholesale fish market.
Taking the MMC stand in its stride, the wholesale fish traders have told Margao Municipal Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai to give the decision of the civic body in writing so that they can submit the position of the Municipality to the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) with a request to waive off the trade licence condition and pave way for the resumption of import of fish in the market. The FDA has all along been insisting that the fish traders obtain the trade licence from the MMC before giving them the nod to resume operations at the wholesale fish market.
MMC Chairperson Babita told a delegation of the wholesale fish traders led by Association President, Maulana Ibrahim that the civic body cannot issue a trade licence for an umbrella organisation and for a business activity carried out in an open space. “The fish traders are like sopo payers in the wholesale fish market owned by the SGPDA. The Municipality cannot give them the trade licence, more so since they are not operating from any closed premises,” Babita later told
the media.
She said that Chief Officer Siddivinayak Naik will give in writing to the Wholesale Fish Market Association the MMC stand on the trade licence in a day or two. “The fish traders have also requested the MMC to give in writing that the body cannot issue any trade licence for them,” she added.
Maulana Ibrahim said he has no issue with the Margao Municipality if the civic body cannot issue trade licence for the Association members to carry out the business in the wholesale market. “We have requested the MMC chief to give the MMC stand in writing so that they can produce the letter to the FDA with a plea to waive off the trade licence condition contained in the August 2 circular,” he said.
Ibrahim told the media that the wholesale fish traders had come to meet the Chief Officer to find out the fate of the applications submitted by the traders for issue of trade licence. “Since the Chief Officer was absent, the delegation called on the MMC chairperson, who was kind enough to give us an audience and explain that the civic body cannot issue the trade licence,” Ibrahim said.
The Wholesale Fish Traders Association president also welcomed Health Minister Vishwajit Rane’s statement that the fish traders should take one big step to make the government give the nod for the resumption of the fish trade.
“Health Minister’s statement is very positive and would pave way for the resumption of fish import during the ensuing season,” Ibrahim said, while promising that the traders will provide fresh, clean and formalin-free fish for the people of Goa.
Welcoming FDA’s decision to post Iva Fernandes to oversee testing of fish in the wholesale fish market, Ibrahim said Iva’s posting will restore confidence of the people of Goa in the fish sold in the markets. “Let the FDA confiscate fish and arrest anyone importing fish with preservatives,” he added.
IBRAHIM SPEAKS >>
Since the CO was absent, the delegation called on MMC chairperson, who was kind enough to give us an audience and explain that the civic body cannot issue the trade licence
The MMC chief has been requested to give the MMC stand in writing so that they can produce the letter to the FDA with a plea to waive off the trade licence condition
Let the FDA confiscate fish and arrest anyone importing fish with preservatives
