Highlighting the problems of air, water and noise pollution caused by Sulphur and Coke units at the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemical Limited (MRPL) Phase III plant, several residents of Jokatte and surrounding villages staged a protest in front the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here on Friday.
The protestors – gathered under the banner of the Nagarika Horata Samiti and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) – said MRPL should either acquire the lands affected by the “pollution” from the plant or shut down the operations of the plant.
Claiming that numerous residents were falling sick because of the nauseous smell and fumes, Muneer Katipalla, State president of DYFI said MRPL had failed in building up a green belt around the new plant to shield residents against the pollution.
MRPL reactionHowever, the MPRL has denied the allegations and has said that it has taken all measures to prevent any form of pollution.