PANAJI: Breaking his silence two days after the revelation that
fish brought into Goa from other states was being laced with cancer-causing chemical, chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday issued directives to the food and drugs administration (FDA) that all trucks carrying adulterated food items be seized.
Parrikar’s announcement comes following the surprise check by the FDA at the Margao wholesale fish market on Thursday. The FDA, initially, declared that the fish contained
formalin, but later said that the chemical was “within permissible limit” that sparked an outrage from the state’s citizens who questioned whether such a substance should be allowed in food items in the first place.
Parrikar’s Twitter account tweeted on Saturday that he was personally monitoring the issue.
“Fish being the staple diet of Goans, I am personally monitoring the issue of “Formalin in Fish” and have directed FDA to seize all trucks carrying such fish or any other food items including fruits and vegetables, and to punish and bring all such violators to face the law,” he tweeted.
Following the surprise check by the FDA on Thursday, only a limited number of trucks, carrying fish from Margao’s wholesale market, have been supplying fish to the local markets leading to a serious shortage. This has led to a steep rise in fish prices. Despite concerns about formalin-laced fish and its skyrocketing rates, Goans have not been able to keep the staple food off their plates and were seen purchasing fish in the markets.
Margao, which incidentally is the nucleus of the wholesale fish market, saw only 10-12 trucks arrive as compared to the usual 30 trucks that bring fish, sometimes even 40 trucks, depending on the natural catch. In Panaji, only two trucks have been turning up instead of the usual five to six trucks. Each truck has around 25 boxes, each box containing 25-30 kg of fish.
“Prices of fish have gone up due to the shortage (see infographic). Business is very slow also because people are not purchasing fish as enthusiastically due to fear of carcinogenic elements in their seafood. But we have enough buyers to push the day’s stock,” said fish vendor Sachin Nayak.
St Inez-based Abdul Hamid said, “I will be buying chicken and vegetables until the government reveals to the public what is the so-called permissible limit of formalin in fish.”
Retired government official and resident of Caranzalem, Andrew Fernandes, was among those who didn’t mind purchasing the fish despite news about it being formalin-laced. “The government should take action against those who have been bringing such fish to Goa, but as a precaution, they must also screen the fish before it hits local markets. As far as consuming it is concerned, the catch by traditional ramponkars is highly unlikely to be toxic,” he said.
Vasco-based photographer Shekhar Kalangutkar said, “We bought fish from women who come door-to-door daily selling fish. We trust them and know that we get fresh fish caught in Vasco. Certainly, the prices are high, but it has been like that since the seasonal ban. We don’t find any difference due to the formalin episode.”
Britona resident Agnelo Pereira said that the issue seems to be a hype being created due to the upcoming monsoon assembly session. “Such scares are usually instigated to divert our attention from other important issues. It is not possible for all the fish in Goa to be formalin-laced. If the FDA is really concerned, they must set down strict guidelines to ensure the sale of fresh fish in Goa.”
Margao resident Prasad Nagvenkar told STOI that he had purchased five mackerels for Rs 200. “I bought it as our family cannot go a single day without eating the staple food item,” he said.
Others, however, preferred to maintain caution. Nancy Rebello from Dongrim-Navelim said, “I purchased the monsoon catch like ‘galbo’ from the Margao fish market. My family has decided not to eat any other fish till the monsoon ban is over.”
File photo of Manohar Parrikar
