With only a few days to go, Goans will be going to the fish markets with a sense of relief to buy fresh fish as the official ban on fish will have been lifted from August 1.
But, is it safe to buy fish? How will the consumer be able to tell the difference between fish which has been frozen and brought into Goa by people from other states, and the fish of fishermen from Goa? Until the ban is lifted the consumer can use his common sense and stay away from all fish. An act of will, no doubt, but necessary to safeguard our health during the short ban of a couple of months. But there are twelve months in a year and not two! Is our health going to resemble a game of matka? With Goans reeling from the recent carnival of ten Congress members exposing their private space for all to see - the degradation it indeed a shocking sight to behold! And where is the much talked about hi-tech lab we were assured would be available so our health would be safe guarded? Maybe, it is on the moon but it has not as yet arrived one year later in Goa! So far, no case of formalin-laced fish has been reported we are told by our government. But, with the absence of a hi-tech lab, is it possible to detect formalin accurately? The government is smart, street smart. Promise a hi-tech lab and don’t deliver it even after the deadline of a year has come and gone. Meanwhile, shout from the rooftops how not a single formalin-laced fish has been detected anywhere in Goa. Yes, the government is smart. What next?
