Margao: Minister for TCP and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai today demanded that FDA should conduct regular checks of fish, entering in the State, to ensure it is chemical free.
Addressing media persons, Sardesai has urged Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to ensure that regular checks of fish to ascertain whether it contains formalin should be conducted through FDA and in case it is found in violation then the import of fish should be banned.
“It should not be just one day activity. Regular checks have to be done. Not just of fish but all the food items like vegetables, fruits etc to ensure we give best and quality food to our people,” Fatorda MLA said.
Minister said that he would direct South Goa planning and development authority to provide required office space in retail fish market as well as at the proposed wholesale market, for setting up FDA unit, so that tests are done daily.
He has asked his colleague and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane to announce his stand on the proposal.
Reacting to the series of allegation against him accusing of influencing FDA to change the fish formalin report, Sardesai declined the same stating ” I am not in favour of any fish trader but concerned about my people.
He recalled that on the day of incident, post raid by FDA, several hundred fish vendors had approached him seeking intervention being the local MLA and the only Minister from South.
“I was of the opinion that there should not be a panic amongst people. Everybody should behave responsibly, be it government, people, media or fish vendors,” he said.
Sardesai also admitted of having telephonic communication with FDA director wanting to know the result of the test conducted. ” As a minister, I was concerned and hence wanted to know the result of test,” he clarified.
