MARGAO
The presence of imported fish in Goa’s lone wholesale fish market at Margao was near zero on Tuesday following curbs imposed at the
State’s borders.
However, the moot questions still remain unanswered “ why have authorities such as the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), the licensing authority Margao Municipal Council and the market owner, SGPDA, have not descended on the market, either to test the fish or check whether
the traders possess the
trade licenses to carry out the business.
This question assumes significance as the
public health department’s circular had mandated that not only imported fish ought to be brought in insulated vehicles, but the traders should possess the trade license to conduct business in the wholesale fish market.
Even a prominent member of the Wholesale Fish Market Association maintained that FDA has not made its presence felt in the wholesale fish market, even as he said
that fish from across the border arrived in the market on Tuesday.
“Today, fish came from far away places, but neither the FDA nor any other agency were present in the wholesale fish market to check the quality. We have only seen the media around in the market,” asserted association Vice-president Imman Sheikh.
Questions were raised in the market whether the fish that is being sold in the wholesale fish market on Tuesday was imported fish stacked in the insulated fish containers parked in the market.
However, officials of the Margao Municipal Council, which is the licensing authority to issue trade licenses
for the wholesale fish traders or the SGPDA, which owns the wholesale fish market, were not seen in the
market to maintain a check on the trade.
Questions were further raised whether these three authorities have decided to lie low for the moment given that the market association has resolved to stop importing fish from November 1.
In the meantime, the wholesale fish traders as well as the sub-agents eking out a living on the wholesale fish trade appeared to have resigned to their fate in the wake of the association’s decision to stop business in the market from November 1.
The wholesale fish platform, which plays host to the imported fish brought into the State almost wore a deserted look, with only a handful of traders engaged in trading fish on Tuesday.
