MAPUSA
Intending to provide quality veggies to Goans, the Goa State Horticultural Corporation Ltd (GSHCL) is toying with the idea of starting a “flying squad” with powers to stop, inspect and reject a faulty consignment of vegetables from suppliers.
The GSHCL has also decided to study and find a way to tackle the issue of horticulture outlets being set up in close proximity leading to unhealthy competition among vendors.
“We will give permission to inspectors of the corporation to stop vehicles and check the consignment of vegetables supplied to vendors for quality. If the consignment is found faulty then the inspectors can reject it. The supervisors and inspectors will operate as a flying squad. The proposal will be placed before the board of directors,” said Premendra Shet, Chairman of GSHCL.
The GSHCL had organised a unique open meeting of vendors operating horticulture outlets in North and South Goa to learn the problems faced by them.
Despite the continuous downpour, almost 500 vendors from North Goa took part in the meeting at the Bodgeshwar Hall in Mapusa on Sunday.
GSHCL Managing Director Chandrahas Desai, Manager Raghunath Joshi and others were also present.
The GSHCL chairman has made his intention clear to bring in a slew of changes in the functioning of the corporation.
“We want to bring 100 per cent change in the quality and provide good vegetables to people along with a good rate. The rate should be equivalent or a little less than the rate in the open market,” said Shet, who is the MLA of the Mayem constituency.
There are 1,250 registered horticulture outlets with the corporation but out of them, only 750 are operating.
The vendors pointed out that at several places permission has been issued to outlets very close to existing ones which has an impact on their income.
Shet informed that the issue will be placed before the board of directors for a detailed discussion to find a way out.
“Vendors should get profit. We understand that proximity of outlets creates a problem but we cannot remove them just like that. We will have to decide whether to shut such outlets or bring some changes to them. We will be working on it,” he said.
He said the GSHCL has a scheme for local farmers offering him an assured rate for the produce he sells to the corporation.
“The Goan farmers should take advantage of the scheme,” he said.
