What the hell has happened to migrants in voter's lists, RP2021 and the rest of issues these groups were screaming just 2 months ago?
Demand for controlling fish prices: VGG seeks Governor’s intervention Published on: July 12, 2012 - 01:17 More in: Goa News MARGAO: The members of the Village Groups of Goa (VGG), Mr John Philipe Pereira and Mr Vasco Da Gama, on Wednesday, sought Governor’s intervention in the issue pertaining to their demand for controlling the skyrocketing fish prices in the state. The fish is sold at a high price in Goa by the trawler owners despite a rich fish culture in the state waters and enjoying subsidy on diesel. Speaking to the media, the duo demanded that the trawler owners in Goa should reserve certain percentage of the catch for the consumption of the Goans at a cheaper rate as they are availing the benefits, including the subsidy on the fuel. "If fish, the staple food of the Goans is not sold at a reasonable price, we would strongly demand with the government to withdraw the subsidies given to them,’’ they said, urging all fish-eating Goans to not buy fish if the prices are high and unaffordable. They further said that "the issue will be raised in the assembly through the MLAs. We want the Governor to intervene as the earlier government failed in controlling the fish prices despite the ad hoc committee, constituted by the government in April, 2008, suggesting in its report that the controlling the fish prices is essential in Goa and that the government should evolve a suitable scheme for ensuing the retail sale of fish at a reasonable price." "We urge the then chairman of the committee, Mr Laxmikant Parsekar, who is incidentally a minister in the government, to pursue the matter and try to implement his suggestion with the help of his government,’’ they added. To a query as to how the state government could control the fish prices sans a mechanism in place, they suggested that "if the government cannot buy the trawlers and compete, they should work on the possible solutions in line with the other state government." "We have strong objection to the statements made by the president of Wholesale Fish Vendors Association, Mr Ibrahim Maulana, who had said that fish was a perishable item and hence prices could not be controlled. They keep 50 percent margin on the fish, and enjoy the government subsidy on diesel also. There has to be somebody to keep a watch on them,’’ they argued. NT
