Fish traders question MMC chief over trade licence

MARGAO: In the absence of the chief officer of Margao Municipal Council, around 70 wholesale fish traders, on Tuesday, met the chairperson of Margao Municipal Council, Babita Prabhudesai, and demanded to know the status  of their application that was submitted over some 40 days back, seeking trade licence from the civic body. 

The fish traders have been asked by the Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to produce trade licence to carry on with the fish trade at the wholesale fish market  after the formalin in fish row rocked the state.

“We had come here to ask about the MMC response to our letter seeking trade licence.  Almost 40 days back, we had urged for the trade licence from the MMC. This is because the FDA is insisting on the trade licence to continue with the fish trade. The MMC is reluctant to give it because it does not have the provision to give licence to carry out the trade in the open space, owned by the SGPDA.

We would like to urge the Health Minister to waive the trade licence rule for us,” said Ibrahim Maulana, president of the Margao Wholesale Fish Market  Association. Maulana, however, praised the Health Minister for “trying to give safe fish.”

“We will follow all the guidelines except for the trade licence. The Health Minister  should understand it,” he pleaded.

The chairperson  of MMC said that the MMC cannot give trade licence to an umbrella organization, and that too for carrying out the trade in the open space owned by the other party.”

“There is no such provision for giving trade licence to the fish traders,” she said as a matter of fact adding that  these traders will, however, be given in writing.

Earlier, the traders gathered at the MMC building, and decided to met the chief officer  Siddhivinayak Naik, with regard to their application seeking the trade license. Since the chief officer was not in his cabin, they met the chairperson Prabhudesai.

When contacted, the chief officer, who was at Panaji office,  clearly said that  the civic body cannot issue trade licence in the name of association, and therefore, the MMC has decided to reject the application.

“Trade licence can be given in the name of individual or a firm, and  not in the name if any association, and specially to those who do not have proper address for correspondence,” the chief officer said.