Reducing the allowance of the employees of Murmurgao Port Trust made for sad reading even though there are a lot of sad news stories every day. It is, however, also an indictment of the policies of MPT.
MPT, in future, needs to keep uppermost in mind not only profit and the bottom line but also how the Trust makes money! Unfortunately, the manner in which they make money does not meet the approval of the residents of Vasco as it has been destroying their health. The employees now have to live with a cafeteria allowance slashed by 25%. It is time to remind the management of how the Trust has been mismanaged over the years. A new management team and Think Tank is necessary, new blood and creative ideas which will lead MPT and the port town, and Goa, to a new and different tomorrow, to a new era of prosperity without destroying the health of the people who live in Vasco. The people who live in Vasco are demanding a stoppage of coal completely as it destroys their health. As this is no secret, the sooner the better the transportation of coal is stopped completely, the brighter is the future of the people of the port town. A deadline has to be agreed on, and the date set for a "funeral." On this day not only the people of Vasco but the whole of Goa will celebrate the "death" of coal. Clean air project plans are what the government has to begin working on immediately. The government needs to provide a progress report of the plans to the public. Only promises won't do; as they say, you can't eat the menu. The people will demand real food, real nutrition. The people of Vasco have shown a patience and fortitude in the face of suffering comparable to Padre Vaz who recently has been anointed a saint. They need to be praised and respected for it. MPT is extremely lucky as the people who reside in Vasco have not sued them for damage caused to their lungs and health. And, there are a lot of people who have health issues because of coal pollution. Had MPT been in Britain the Trust probably would have had to shut down immediately. The Trust has sadly lost the trust of the people who live in this port town, and Goa. They are extremely lucky and should apologize (no charge, it is free) to the people of Vasco for their unconscionable business activities. And, promise in future, not to indulge in any toxic business which will harm the health of the people who live in Vasco. Then, and only then, will they be able to get rid of the smoke and dust in their relationship with the residents of the port town. Let's hope it will happen in the near future. There is no time to lose. It is the hour to walk the talk and not talk the walk.
