MARGAO
Demanding that only vehicles with refrigerated facility are allowed to import fish into the state, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday demanded that the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) conduct random checks of fish sold in the fish markets across the state apart from the routine checks on the border.
The AAP also demanded that the government throw open the gates of the SGPDA wholesale fish market for the traditional fishermen so that they could bring their catch as and when it is netted.
Addressing the media, AAP spokesman Melyvn Pereira said the party has received complaints from members of the public stating that fish infested with maggots are being sold in some markets. “This is happening because the fish imported from outside the State in vehicles does not conform to rules pertaining to refrigeration facility. Minimum degree of ice is not maintained by the vehicles transporting fish from outside the State,” he said, demanding action by the FDA and other authorities.
While accusing the government of lack of seriousness in tackling the issue import seriously, Melvyn demanded that the FDA conduct random checks of the fish sold in the wholesale and retail fish markets across the State. “Let the FDA continue the checks on the State borders,” he said.
Melvyn further pointed out that the government immediately put an end to the discriminatory policy against the traditional fishermen bringing fish TO the wholesale fish market and demanded liberation of the wholesale fish market from the clutches of outside fish agents. “The wholesale fish market is locked after the outside fish agents exhausts their stock, leaving the traditional fishermen with no option but to sell their catch on the roads. This has to stop immediately,” Melvyn added.
In his address, AAP leader Sidharth Karapurkar pointed out that they have received information that the imported fish continues to be stored in the vehicles when there is no sale, demanding to know whether the fish is stored in a refrigerated state as per the norms. He said politicians from both the major political parties have not shown seriousness on the issue it deserved for reasons best known to them.
