the goan I network
MARGAO
Asserting that pressure and threats from within and outside the State will not deter the government from putting in place a highest quality control standard to check fish, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai on Saturday said that fish coming from Sindhudurg and other states is welcome into the State, but it should pass the highest quality standard.
He also warned the fish lobbies that the government will not tolerate any dadagiri at the wholesale fish market, saying the SGDPA will not be soft on anyone, adding that they will have to comply with the laid down guidelines.
When the media sought his reaction to the threats issued by leaders in Sindhudurg to stop vehicles from Goa plying in the region if fish from the district is not allowed in Goa, Sardesai shot back “The government of Goa intends to reach the highest standards of quality control. These are state subjects and no outside state can dictate terms to Goa as far as adoption of safety standards is concerned. This is our independence and we should not be pressurised on how to go about the job,”
he said.
The TCP Minister said that socio and politically conscious people of Goa demand that the government implement the highest quality standards. “If we adopt some quality standards, they should adept accordingly and not pressurise the government to turn a blind eye to the safety standards and force the citizenry to consume food which is not certified to be safe for consumption,” he added.
Citing an instance, the TCP Minister pointed out that mangoes from the Konkan region is exported to Europe after passing through the highest quality standards. “What we are trying to implement in Goa is a mechanism wherein fish imported into Goa passes the highest quality standards,” he added.
He appealed to the fish lobbies to desist from pressurising the government from setting up the quality mechanism, saying pressure will
not work.
“I have been told by a former FDA director that in Karnataka there are cubicles right inside the Mandis to ripen fruits artificially with carbides. Tomorrow, should we accept such fruits just because such a practice is going on in Karnataka,” he said, while saying that the food testing laboratory sanctioned by Union Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu will check fish, milk, fruit and vegetables imported into the State.
On licences to the wholesale fish traders, Sardesai reminded that the wholesale market belongs to the PDA.
“We will now ensure that the licence is issued after seeking the details of the traders. The PDA will not repeat the same old mistake. These lobbies want the status quo, but we will remain firm”, he said, while issuing a warning that the government will not remain a silent spectator to dadagiri from any quarter.
The government of Goa intends to reach the highest standards of quality control and no outside state can dictate terms to Goa as far as adoption of safety standards is concerned
If we adopt some quality standards, they should adept accordingly and not pressurise the government to turn a blind eye to the safety standards and force the citizenry to consume food which is not certified to be safe for consumption
We will now ensure that the licence is issued after seeking the details of the traders and the PDA will not repeat the same old mistake
In Karnataka there are cubicles inside the Mandis to ripen fruits artificially with carbides. Tomorrow, should we accept such fruits just because such a practice is going on in Karnataka
Govt should not succumb to pressure tactics from wholesale fish agents, says Churchill
MARGAO: Benaulim NCP MLA Churchill Alemao on Saturday said that the government should stand firm in its resolve to tighten the screws on the wholesalers importing fish into the State.
Churchill told the media in the presence of TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai that the government should not succumb to the pressure tactics adopted by the wholesale fish agents if it wants to restore the confidence of the fish loving Goans in the fish available for sale.
“The two Ministers Vijai Sardesai and Vishwajit Rane were blamed by the people for not acting against the unscrupulous wholesale fish agents for importing fish laced with formalin. Since the two Ministers have now initiated concrete steps to stop the imported fish laced with preservatives, they ought to be supported by the people,” Churchill said.
He pointed out that people by and large have welcomed the stop in the import of fish, saying that Goans now look forward for fresh and safe fish netted by the local vessels and the traditional fishermen. “I am confident that the local catch will meet the requirements of the fish loving Goans,” he said.
Reacting to Ibrahim’s allegations that he has no idea on the fishing industry, Churchill retorted by saying that Ibrahim must not have been born when he was involved in the fishing business.
