Activists of Nagarika Horata Samithi led by Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) staged a demonstration in front of the Mangalore Refinery and Petroleum Limited (MRPL) to urge the government to shut down the coke plant of the company.
Some of activists slept in front of the main entrance of the refinery symbolising and mocking that people have died due to inhaling of poisonous air.
Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Muneer Katipalla, president of the State unit of DYFI, alleged that the coke plant was causing air pollution and affecting people in Jokatte, Kalavaru and Kenjar areas.
He feared that if the refinery started production in the upcoming Sulphur plant it would aggravate the pollution further.
He said that the sulphur plant was just 50-metre away from the coke plant. The company said that it would raise the height of the peripheral wall of the plant by 30 ft. But it would not prevent the dust from the plant area spreading in air. Hence the plant should be closed down as people were risking their health.
The protesters shouted slogans against B. Ramanath Rai, Minister in charge of Dakshina Kannada, K. Abhayachandra Jain, MLA of Mulki-Moodbidri Assembly constituency, B.A. Mohiuddin Bava, MLA of Mangaluru City North, and Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP. They alleged that the elected representatives were least bothered to listen to their grievances even after the Assistant Commissioner of Mangaluru Sub-division in his a report to the Deputy Commissioner pointing out that the unit was creating problem to people in villages.
Meanwhile, the MRPL has said that all parameters as required by the rules have been under control and were being regularly monitored. A company official earlier went on record that multiple agencies have been engaged to ensure that the environment was protected.
