the goan I network
CANACONA
Confusion prevailed at the Polem border check-post in the wee hours of Saturday, after police stopped and sent back around 30 fish container trucks for failing to possess FDA registration certificates.
Nine other fish containers trucks were also stopped at the check post, but were allowed to enter the State later in the evening.
According to sources, border police had a tough time since the wee hours of Saturday, after several fish container trucks entering the State were told to return for failing to possess the mandatory FDA registration for fish traders.
“Initially, there were arguments when police sought to display a copy of the FDA registration and many fish container truck operators feigned ignorance of its need,” said a source.
“The police did not accept their ignorance and the drivers were directed to return with the fish consignment, if they did not possess the FDA registration certificate with them. After initial hesitation, the fish trucks turned and headed back towards Karwar,” the source added.
When contacted, a policeman at the Polem border confirmed that about 30 fish container trucks, which were headed to the wholesale fish market in Goa, headed back towards Karwar.
Incidentally, police had also stopped nine fish container trucks near the border which were headed either to fishmeal plants in Goa or for export.
Police notified the FDA
and requested it to depute their officials to the site for inspection.
According to Canacona police, two FDA officials reached the Polem border later in the day and held discussions with the fish container truck operators.
When the FDA officials sought to inspect their FDA registration certificates, the fish container truck operators claimed that they had been regularly transporting fish since the last 15 days and requested FDA to allow them to transport their consignment on Saturday. They assured to bring their consignment only after being equipped with necessary papers.
These fish containers were then allowed to proceed later in the evening despite not having FDA registration details, on grounds that they were transporting fish to a fixed location (either for export or to a fishmeal plant).
When contacted, Canacona PI Rajendra Prabhudesai said: “We were asked not to allow entry to any fish laden vehicle without fish transportation permit. Accordingly, we stopped the vehicles not having FDA permits. Many vehicles returned and after FDA officials came and inspected the vehicles, we permitted entry only to those nine fish container trucks inspected by the FDA at about 3.30 pm,” PI Prabhudesai said.
