If ban is not lifted, won’t allow fish from Goa: Karnataka mantri

PANAJI/MANGALURU: The Goa government’s decision to ban transportation of fish from outside the state seems to be turning into an inter-state issue, with Karnataka minister for urban development UT Khader saying that his state’s fisheries minister will hold talks with his Goa counterpart to resolve the issue.

Khader said that if Goa doesn’t lift the ban on fish imports, Karnataka would not allow fish from Goa into the state. Meanwhile, on Saturday, four trucks laden with fish from Goa were turned away from the Karnataka border at Polem after a huge crowd of local fishermen, fish traders and trawler owners gathered at the spot to protest the decision of the Goa government to ban the import of fish from other states

Khader, addressing reporters in Mangaluru on Saturday, alleged that the Goa government has no proper evidence that fish from Karnataka is laced with formalin. “It’s a baseless allegation by Goa authorities,” he said. “If they don’t lift the ban, we will not allow fish from Goa in to Karnataka. Fifty percent of the people in coastal Karnataka eke out their livelihood from fishing. How can they ban it overnight?” he questioned.