MARGAO
With Health Minister Vishwajit Rane mulling a ban on import of fish into the State for six months over the formalin issue, the Margao Wholesale Fish Market Association President Maulana Ibrahim on Saturday said the wholesale fish traders have no reaction to the Health Minister’s decision, saying it is for the Goan public to take a decision on the issue.
“We have no reaction to offer to the Health Minister’s decision for the moment. Let the people of Goa decide what they want,” reacted Ibrahim, when asked for his reaction to the Health Minister’s decision to ban import of fish for a period of six months.
Incidentally, the Health Minister’s decision comes hours after the Margao Wholesale Fish Market Association questioned Rane why FDA is not initiating action against outstation buses which transport fish inspite of ban on interstate imports. Ibrahim had also demanded that the Minister should also reply whether these buses are issued FDA licenses.
Ibrahim did not end there. He went on to state that if the Health Minister fails to take any action, then the public will make their opinion that Vishwajit Rane, who claims to be very much concerned about public health, actually supports this illegal trade.
“The fish that is being brought into the State in these buses is of inferior quality and spoiled. If this fish is sold in the market, then the entire trade would get a bad name. Fish industry is already facing problems due to FDA’s attitude. We don’t want the industry to get a bad name further,” Ibrahim had stated in the statement.
While stating that the wholesalers are willing to complete all the formalities required by FDA, but they needed time as government agencies like SGPDA and Margao municipality were yet to give them the NOCs, Ibrahim had stated that the wholesalers were expecting Vishwajit Rane to ensure that the trade does not suffer and take action against these buses which are transporting fish illegally.
In the statement, the association drew the attention of the general public that due to the action of FDA to stop fish carrying vehicles on the border, some unknown people were using inter-state buses to bring in fish illegally.
“On Friday, the members of the association had caught fish being brought illegally to Margao and on Saturday, one inter-state bus was seen unloading fish boxes in Panjim,” Ibrahim pointed in the statement.
