PANAJI: Health minister Vishwajit Rane squarely blamed “some people with vested interests” for adulterating fish brought into the state and called for a permanent ban on imports and exports. “Some people with vested interests are making money on fish imports and destroying lives of people,” Rane told TOI.Without getting into details of who was responsible for the formalin-laced fish being sold in the state, Rane said the only solution to the problem was to have a permanent ban and he would push for it. “I would also appeal to the state government to permanently ban imports of fish from other states,” he said.“The fish coming from out of the state can only be stored laced in formalin, I am told. Also, I have read several papers during the past two days to understand the issue,” he said and apologized for commenting that formalin found in fish was “within permissible limits”.Rane said to meet the consumption demands of Goans, for whom fish is a staple diet, he would recommend a ban on exports so that there is sufficient fish available for the people. “Sometimes, strong decisions are required in the interest of the people of Goa. The well-being of people and saving life is my mission and motto,” he said.Rane also said the food and drugs administration (FDA) “will continue to test fish in the markets on daily basis. No truck will be permitted to enter the state without being certified by the FDA after the ban is lifted.”He said if a trawler owner was taking subsidy from the government, then “it is his duty to sell fish within the state. It is going to be my appeal to the chief minister and to the government. We do it in the interest of public health.”He said the FDA will also check basa fish that comes from outside the state. The hotels have been given strict instructions to check basa fish, as it is known to have added preservatives, Rane said.Besides, chicken and vegetables entering the state would also checked without creating any kind of disturbance to people, he said.Rane believes that there has been a conspiracy to target him and the FDA, which has been under the scanner since the formalin-in-fish controversy erupted.“There’s been an attempt to malign my image, but they will not succeed,” he said.As for the Facebook post highlighting ills of Goa Medical College (GMC), which went viral on Thursday, Rane said, “It’s the neglect of the past five years. A tender for supplying nutritious food to patients will be finalised in the next 45 days. We need 45 days to put things in order.”

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