the goan I network
PANAJI
The State government on Monday issued an order relaxing the transportation regulations for “small traditional fishers” from the neighbouring States of Karanataka and Maharashtra, operating from within a 60 km radius of the Goa border.
Only four-wheeler vehicles will be eligible for the relaxation.
The order was issued by the Public Health Department on Monday after representatives of the trade met Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, on a day the traders resorted to a flash strike leading to a near total shut down of fish markets in Goa.
The order states: “In order not to cause any hardships to the local traditional fishermen of the neighbouring States, the Government hereby permits the local traditional fishermen of the neighbouring States to bring their fish in the State of Goa, subject to the following conditions:
1) Only traditional fishermen of the neighbouring States of Karnataka and Maharashtra within the radius of 60 kms shall be permitted to bring fish in the State.
2) They may carry the fish in small vehicles i.e. light motor vehicles (Boleros, Tata Mobiles and similar four-wheelers) in insulated boxes (or) with adequate ice.”
The order, signed by the under secretary for Health, Maria De Souza, also stated that fish brought would be subjected to random tests and if found positive for chemicals, the consignment would be held back and further subjected to lab test, after which the FDA would decide on further action.
Though the government has been talking about doing this since the end of November, it was a protest by the fishing community on Monday morning that forced its arm, and resulted in the order being issued late in the evening.
“It’s not that I’ve forgotten. It’s just that we were trying to figure out how to let these small traders in,” Rane said on Monday morning.
Rane had been wavering on the issue for the past 2-3 days. He had said on more than one occasion that he would not bow to any pressure as he feared the bigger traders would operate through these small fish traders to import fish into Goa.
Rane also said that the delegation along with the Fisheries Minister of Karnataka would be meeting with him on December 20.
Over 500 people from the fishing community had gathered in protest at Miramar beach on Monday. They were demanding that the government let fish trade continue without harassment.
The community was facing harassment by Karwar locals, after the Goa government destroyed a huge consignment of fish without testing it because “the trader did not have a license to trade in the wholesale market.”
FDA officials don’t know rules,
claim traders
PANAJI: Fish traders protesting at Miramar hit out at the govt and the FDA officials claiming they themselves were not aware of the rules.
Speaking to media, fishermen said, “they’ve stopped fish trade of big and small traders alike. They are not even telling us what we’re supposed to do to be able to trade. At the FDA, no one seems to know and they keep passing the buck”, they said.
“If we knew what the govt wants, we could comply... But they won’t tell us”, another fisherman said.
Traders also felt the govt was being unfairly harsh with poor people. “We’re selling fish because we are uneducated,” said one fisherwoman, while another pointed out that many people from the fishing community depended entirely on the day’s earnings.
