the goan I network
MARGAO
The formalin scare returned to haunt Madgavkars and Goans in general on Saturday when random checks on fish sold in the SGPDA retail fish market carried out by a Congress team, with specialised kits, tested positive for formalin.
Congress leaders led by AICC general secretary in-charge of Goa desk Dr Chella Kumar, GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar and Party MLAs were quick to slam the coalition government, demanding that the government wake up from slumber and initiate measures to protect the health and safety of the people of Goa. The Congress leaders said samples which have been tested positive will be dispatched to the FDA as well as a city-based private laboratory for further tests.
The SGPDA retail fish market -- which was renovated recently on the lines of the Dubai market -- witnessed an uproar after the Congress team descended with formalin and ammonia testing kits. Tests conducted on fish bought by customers from the market turned out positive on fish such as sardines, baby mackerels, pomfrets and white shrimps, giving an armament for the Opposition Congress to target Manohar Parrikar-led coalition government. The tests conducted by the Congress team with special kits have again brought to the fore whether formalin-laced fish still finds its way in the fish markets.
AICC General Secretary Dr Chella Kumar clarified that the Congress is not trying to fish in troubled waters and neither is the Congress against the fish vendors. “This is indeed a matter of concern since 80 per cent of Goans are fish eaters. Today, we have come to alert the people of Goa what is going on around them. “A government, which was formed illegally by grabbing the mandate given to the Congress is compromising on so many issues. They are not taking the responsibility to look after the health of the Goan people. The Congress is willing to cooperate with the government, but please listen to people’s grievances as they are concerned over the formalin laced fish”, Dr Chella said.
GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar said the purpose behind conducting random tests was to find out whether fish sold was formalin laced since there was no seriousness from the government to provide formalin-free fish for Goans. “We had demanded a stop to the import of outside fish till a mechanism is set up to check the quality. Despite the confidence level of the people being low, the government was trying to save the wholesale fish agents and their business”, Girish said.
He said the ongoing exercise is aimed at creating an awareness and force the government to act to protect the health of the people of Goa.
Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourneco said the Congress has come to wake up the government which has been sleeping for months now. He slammed the FDA Director Jyoti Sardesai, saying the Director did not answer his phone calls after the fish was tested positive for formalin. “There is confusion in the minds of the people. We are not saying our tests are 100 per cent correct. But, it is the responsibility of the government to clear the doubts”, he added.
Congress MLAs Clafacio Dias, Wilfred D’Sa, Nilkhant Harlankar, besides Mahila Congress Chief Pratima Coutinho and others were part of the Congress team.
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