Formalin scare: Locals want FDA checks in Siolim fish market

the goan I network
MAPUSA  
Worried over the formalin-in-fish issue, Siolim-Marna gram  sabha on Sunday demanded that the FDA conduct periodic visits and examine the fish in Siolim fish market.  
Locals said a lot of fish arrives in Siolim market on a  daily basis and although most of the fish available in  the village was local, periodic check by FDA officials would ensure  confidence among the people after the recent formalin scare in the state.
A resolution moved by Joaquim Barros calling for  periodic visits of FDA officials in Siolim market was unanimously passed  by the gram sabha.  
Siolim is well known for its local fish catch and a lot of  people rush to the fish market near the old ferry point in the village.  The villagers also expressed unhappiness over the  government’s decision to give its assent to the CRZ draft notification  2018 and opposed the same. “How can the government give assent to the notification without informing the people of Goa,” asked Fatima Fernandes, a local.  
The gram sabha then passed an unanimous resolution opposing the CRZ draft notification 2018.  
Speaking about the impact of plastic on environment, locals called for ban on use of plastic carry bags in the panchayat area.  
“The government should ban plastic at the source. Companies  manufacturing plastic should be shut down to bring a stop to this  menace,” said Amrut Agarwadekar.  
Social worker Gregory D’Souza informed the gram  sabha that banning plastic was just part of the solution. What was  important was to create awareness about the menace.  
“Also shopkeepers should be provided with an  alternative. Just banning without providing an alternative to plastic  will never resolve the problem,” D’Souza said.  
Some locals suggested that no rooms be rented to Nigerians who indulge in illegal activities.  
Opposing it, Gregory D’Souza said that it would lead to  discrimination and instead suggested that people follow proper  procedures.  
“Whenever rooms are rented to foreigners, the owner needs  to fill ‘Form C’ and furnish a copy at the nearest police station,” he  said.  
Due to rise in dengue cases in several parts of the State,  D’Souza suggested creating awareness on dengue and other vector borne  diseases in the village along with the health officials.  Another local, Olga D’Souza suggested that the panchayat  should present annual village health report before the gram sabha so  that people become aware of the health issues affecting the village.