the goan I network
MARGAO
The formalin scare has come back to haunt fish loving Goans with the Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday claiming that tests conducted on fish at the Margao wholesale fish market, and markets at Colva, Quepem and Loutolim have all allegedly tested positive for formalin.
Displaying the test findings at a media briefing here on Thursday, AAP leaders have urged the government not to play with the health of the fish eating Goans and to streamline the fish testing mechanism. The party has also called upon the government to come clear on whether formalin is bad for health and whether there’s permissible limits.
Addressing the media, AAP leader Sidharth Karapurkar pointed out that concerned with the health of Goans, AAP volunteers decided to test the fish physically for the presence of formalin. “Fish testing kits were procured and fish was tested at different places like Margao wholesale market, Colva market, Quepem market and Loutolim. In all the mentioned places the fish was found to be positive for formalin with the testing kits,” Karapurkar claimed.
Saying that random fish testing at the State borders is not foolproof, he reminded that fish is imported into the State not only by road, but in trains and wondered whether the government has set up any testing facilities at the railway stations.
Demanding to know what is meant by permissible limits and to what extent formalin affects humans if ingested on regular basis since fish is the staple diet of Goans, AAP district treasurer, Ramiro Mascarenhas said that promises made to the general public about setting up of state-of-the-art laboratories for testing of formalin hasn’t yet materialised.
AAP spokesman Richard D’Sa pointed out that formalin cannot be used as a preservative at all as it is detrimental to health. “People should know that you are sincerely checking the fish, which does not seem to be the case. People should know how many trucks just go through without being scrutinised,” he said, adding ‘since Goans are fish eating people and that fish is a staple food, the government should take much more interest in providing the people with safe fish and cannot say formalin found is within permissible limits’.
