Testing time for Margao food lab; Work likely to take at least a year

the goan I network

MARGAO

Fisheries Minister Vinoda Paliencar on Saturday said the state-of-the-art food testing lab proposed at Margao may even take a year to take shape, even as he tried to reassure Goans that the fish entering into the state from other states is tested at the State borders.  

He further said that he is content with the portfolios he is presently presiding, trying to dish out the impression that he is not disturbed after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant left him out during the portfolio distribution.  

In fact, the Fisheries Minister said the media is free to take a look at the fish testing reports available at the Health department, to confirm that fish entering the state is fit for consumption.  

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the function at Nuvem on Saturday morning, Paliencar said he and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had checked the records compiled by the Health department since the ban on fishing in the state had come into force on June 1. “The Health department is compiling reports on the fish coming into the state from across the border. If the media wants to check these reports, they can ask the same from the health department”, he said, virtually trying to say that there is no problem with the fish coming into the state from other states.  

Paliencar’s statement assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the statement made by GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar last Sunday, claiming that all is not well with the fish entering the state from across the borders.  

Asked on the status of the proposed start of the art food 

testing laboratory at the SGPDA market, the Fisheries Minister said that work on the laboratory is presently underway at the PDA complex. He, however, said that it may take some time, going to the extent of saying it may take even a year to commission the lab. “The process to set up the food testing laboratory is underway. We are trying to expedite the work and ensure that it is commissioned at the earliest”, he added.  

Meanwhile, on the question that he was left out by the Chief Minister without any additional portfolio, Paliencar said I am not at all disturbed after being denied additional portfolios. “I have enough portfolios to work. What is the use of additional portfolios if there is no work”, he said, adding “I am happy with what is given to me”.