'PRIVATE' PARTS

Is this guy for real?
Is this guy really for real?
How consistently can a newspaper feed incorrect information to its readers? And how often?
This editorial is such a lamentable piece of work... Why? Cause it begins with the wrong premise and then goes on and builds a case around it. One could still fathom a wrong interpretation... but such a glaring factual error?
How do they choose editors these days?
Measure the crown of their heads or their girth?
In one of it's recent editorials, Herald editor Robin Abreu actually describes the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) as a private company? How can anyone be 'this' wrong? Here's the MPT website, check it for yourself. It's a government concern with an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer as the chairman.
All Robin had to do was call up his counterpart in The Navhind Times on this number 0832-6651123 and ask, 'Arun, that organisation you were a trustee in... was that a private firm or was it a government run affair?'
Arun's... Arun Sinha for the uninitiated. Sinha held the position of trustee at the MPT, when his fellow Bihari chum Nitish Kumar called the shots in the NDA government at the Centre.
Effectively during his tenure in the MPT, you could say Mr Sinha played the contrasting roles of people's watchdog and a government lapdog with characteristic skill.
Ok where were we... MPT and the Herald...
Well, there's something else Robin could have done.
He could have called up Frankey Fernandes... Franky works in the public relations dept at the MPT, works as the Goa stringer for NDTV and when he has a couple of free fingers to string around some more, he writes for the Herald as the Mormugao correspondent. Robin didn't call him too.
We guess he went with the spirit, that was vehemently articulated in Herald's A BIG THANK YOU notice.

Herald says “ask and you will receive”. Some will have questions and Herald says “ask and you will be answered”

Looks like this is one Oracle, that's probably lost it.
You could call Robin on his mobile and remind him of his mistake and ask him to get his facts right in the future or you could call on the Herald board numbers and leave a message. Or as we usually urge you to, listen to his side of the story, if you wish to.
Robin Abreu: 09822122325 and 0832-2433373 (direct line)
Herald board numbers: 0091-832-2224202,2224460,2228083

http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=2215&cid=15

Above the state
Can a private company have the right to claim possession of certain areas of the state? And is a private company above the law of the land where it can supersede any governmental decision? The sudden claim by the Mormugoa Port Trust that "all the water areas of River Zuari, West of Agacaim-Cortalim ferry (excluding the ferry and the landing stages), along the villages of Agacaim (Mercurim), Goa Velha, Siridao, Bambolim, Cacara, Nauxim, Odxel, Vainguinim, Dona-Paula on the North; Cortalim, Sancoale, Dabolim, Chicalim, Vasco-da-Gama on the South as well as the sea front at Sada, Baina, Bogmalo, Chicolna, Issorcim, Velsao, Cansaulim, Arrossim, and Utorda, the Islands of Piqueno, Grande, etc and the specified areas of Betul, fall within the limits of Port of Mormugao may have surprised one and all. Is MPT trying to tell the people of Goa that they are a state within a state and they can do what they want? Is MPT trying to tell Goa and Goans, that if a fisherman from Betul wants to repair his jetty he cannot do so but is made to wait for the lordships at MPT to grant permission? What is happening to Goa where the ordinary and average Goan does not have access to the land he was born in? It is a sad state of affairs today that the state is unable to protect the rights of the common man who wants access to certain areas but is denied by private companies. One can understand a situation where there is a dockyard making defense equipment as in Mazagaon Docks or even Vishakapatnam where the surrounding area is acquired from the national security point of view. But this decision by MPT is extremely surprising and it has not explained to the people as to why it has made this claim and why was this claim not made when Bharati Shipyard was making plans to start a shipyard at Chicalim. But if one considers what is happening in Goa do not be surprised if companies are invited in to set up shop and then slowly start usurp the land around them and deny the average Goan the right to these lands. Companies set up shop in Goa and before the people know what is happening restrictions are in place for the non movement of local people and certain areas are place out of bounds. What is happening here? Be it multinational corporations, even for that matter non governmental organizations and certain private parties who take the law into their own hands and do not care a dam for the local people. What is the government doing about this? Now the government is planning to have Special Economic Zones, which as per Central government rules are a law to themselves. In addition there are other projects coming up – will these projects also dictate to the government? The MPT example is a clear cut case where a company has tried to lay down the law claiming land which rightly fully belongs to the state. What about private individuals or organizations which do the same, as it is happening in the costal belts. Why is the government not acting there? In many cases, these private hotels have wantonly damaged people's fields, bunds and property so that their guests can have access to that hotel. Is this also not a violation of the laws? The MPT is a clear eye opener that today the average Goan has no say in his own land. Yes, Goa is not for the Goans.