THE BIG QUESTION
Why is the state-of-the-art laboratory to check quality of food, including fish coming into the state, proposed to be set up at old Azilo hospital, Mapusa when Goa’s lone wholesale fish market is located in Margao
BIZZARE FACT
FDA’s laboratory is located in Bambolim and another proposed to be set up in Margao will only be administrative in nature and testing of fish or any other food item from South Goa will have to be conducted at the Bambolim
THE WHOLESALE FISH
MARKET IN MARGAO
>> All outstation vehicles carrying fish into the state are parked at the Margao wholesale fish market, which incidentally is Goa’s lone wholesale fish market
>> Even fish-laden trucks coming from Maharashtra and Gujarat drive straight to the Margao wholesale fish market, before consignments are put up for sale
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MARGAO: Union Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu’s announcement to set up a state-of-the-art laboratory by the Central government’s Export Inspection Agency (EIA) and Quality Council of India (QCI) in Goa has raised a pertinent question: Why is the state-of-the-art laboratory to check quality of food, including fish coming into the state, is proposed to be set up at Azilo hospital, Mapusa when Goa’s lone wholesale fish market is located in Margao, which plays host to a number of fish trucks coming into the state from across the borders every day?
Apart from fish, the Commercial capital is the major destination for food products such as fruits and vegetables, brought by a fleet of vehicles from the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala.
This question assumes significance in view of the fact that Food and Drugs Administration FDA’s state-of-the-art laboratory is located in North Goa district at Bambolim. And FDA’s South Goa unit, which is proposed to be set up at the Old Collelctorate, Margao by December end is only administrative in nature and testing of fish or any other food item from South Goa will have to be carried out at the Bambolim lab.
Inquiries by The Goan has revealed that all outstation vehicles carrying fish into the state are parked at the Margao wholesale fish market, which incidentally is Goa’s lone wholesale fish market. Sources say even fish-laden trucks coming from Maharashtra and Gujarat drive straight to the Margao wholesale fish market, before hoteliers, retailers and other small vendors from all over the state buy the fish and head to their respective destinations.
Incidentally, FDA South district Officer Iva Fernandes had unearthed the presence of formalin in fish at the wholesale market when her team had carried out the raid on the 17 trucks that had brought fish into Goa from the country’s east coast in July last.
That’s not all. Two major fishing jetties, including Cutbona are located in South Goa, which has emerged as the major fishing hub, besides Vasco jetty.
Against this backdrop, question is being raised in market circles as to why the state-of-the-art laboratory mooted by the Centre is proposed to be set up in Mapusa when almost all the trucks importing fish into the state is unloaded at Margao.
Sources in the know wondered whether the government had explored the availability of space in the commercial capital before taking the decision to tentatively set up the lab at Azilo hospital Mapusa.
It’s still unclear yet whether the Health department had assessed the suitability of the T B sanatorium’s spacious complex atop Monte Hill to set up the proposed state-of-the-art laboratory before zeroing in on the Azilo hospital, Mapusa. And, it remains unknown whether the government has explored the possibility of utilizing the annex building of Hospicio hospital to set up the proposed lab after the shifting the Hospicio hospital to the new district hospital premises.
It’s not known whether Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai, who was present at Union Minister Suresh Prabhu’s conference has insisted that the proposed lab is set up in the commercial capital, as there have been complaints galore that the FDA had not been prompt in attending to food related in the past.
