the goan I network
MARGAO
Taken aback by claims of Congress team that fish sold in the retail market was laced with formalin, agitated SGPDA retail fish vendors demanded that the Congress should carry out the tests in the wholesale fish market, saying retail vendors procure their fish requirement from the wholesale market.
Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco accepted the gauntlet to carry out fish testing in the wholesale fish market, but demanded that the FDA provide them the necessary kits.
Commenting on the detection of formalin-laced fish in the market, President of Margao retail fish Association, Felix Gonsalves said the retail vendors procure fish from the wholesale fish market. “We buy the fish requirement from the wholesalers before offering the fish for sale in the retail market. We have no idea whether fish imported from outside the state or fish brought for sale from within the State is laced with formalin”, Felix said, as he
wondered whether fish caught in the sea comes with formalin.
Another fisherwoman demanded to know from the Congress team why they had not conducted similar tests in the wholesale fish market before coming to the retail market. “We buy the fish from the wholesale fish agents and the boat owners on the premise that the fish is fit for consumption. Instead of testing the fish here, they should go to the wholesale fish market”, she demanded.
Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, however, said the next destination of the Congress team will be the wholesale fish market. “We will go to the wholesale fish market one day even if it means that we carry out the tests before dawn”, he said, while criticizing the government for abdicating their responsibility to look after the health and safety of the people.
