Oppn MLAs raise stink in Goa Assembly over formalin-in-fish issue

The Monsoon session of Goa Assembly began on a stormy note today with the opposition demanding a discussion on the issue of formalin, a preservative that causes cancer, being found in fish in the state, instead of the listed business.

The ruckus led to repeated adjournments before Speaker Pramod Sawant was forced to adjourn the house for the day.

As soon as the house assembled on the opening day, Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar demanded they be allowed to move an adjournment motion to take up the issue. The presence of the cancer-inducing chemical has been confirmed by the state Food and Drugs Administration.

The speaker did not allow it and asked the Congress members to raise the issue through a Calling Attention motion.

However, Kavlekar refused to listen and, along with other Congress members, rushed into the well of the house.

The speaker then adjourned the house till 12 noon.

When the house assembled again, the opposition members continued with their demand for an adjournment motion.

As Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar tried to respond to a question tabled in the house, the Congress legislators again demanded that their demand for an adjournment motion be prioritised by suspending the Question Hour.

The speaker said he would take up the issue after the Question Hour, but the din continued.

Sawant then adjourned the house till 12.30 pm.

Later, the Congress legislators stuck to their demand and again rushed into the well, forcing the speaker to adjourn the house till 12.45 pm.

When the house reassembled, the opposition members remained adamant. The speaker passed obituary references amidst noisy scenes and adjourned the house till 2.30 pm.

When the house assembled after the lunch break, the Congress legislators continued the uproar.

Parrikar tabled some documents, including a report on sanction granted by the governor to Goa Appropriation Bill.

However, as the opposition members continued to stall proceedings, the speaker finally adjourned the house for the day.

The Goa government yesterday banned the import of fish from outside the state until the end of this month in view of the formalin scare.

Parrikar had said instructions would be issued at Goa's boundaries not to allow fish-laden trucks from outside the state.

The Goa FDA has confirmed the presence of formalin in fish imported from other states.

However, the agency later said the toxic chemical - used to preserve bodies and prevent its decay in mortuaries - was "on par" with its naturally-occurring levels in the sampled fishes and there was no added amount of it.

The chief minister had said the ban would eliminate all fears of the presence of formalin content in fish.