'MRPL will not compromise with environmental issues'

Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan has said that Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) would not compromise with environmental issues.The MRPL is bound to adhere to the mandate set by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.

Speaking after dedicating Polypropylene unit at the MRPL III phase on Sunday, he said “I am aware of the apprehensions of the people of the surrounding region with regard to coke and sulphur units. I will meet persons affected from the two units to understand the basic issue,” he said.

‘Make in India’
“We want Mangaluru to be a top city in the ‘Make in India’ campaign of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government is committed to provide facilities for the success of the campaign in the region,” he said.

He said that his ministry would ask the Kerala government to look into the feelings of local people opposing the gas pipeline from Kochi to Mangaluru.

“Early completion of pipeline will be beneficial for both Karnataka and Kerala. The completion of the project will help the Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers (MCF) to convert from naphtha-based urea production unit to gas-based urea production.
This will help in increasing the urea production and will also make country self-sufficient in the urea production. We are also exploring the possibility of a terminal at New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) to supply gas,” he added.
The minister said that both Centre and State governments should work in co-ordination for the progress. The stocking of crude oil in the caverns of the strategic reserve — ISPRL will commence shortly to cash in on the advantage of fall in the prices of global crude oil.

The prime minister’s call asking people to give up subsidy on domestic LPG cylinders should be taken up as a movement by citizens. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Ashok Chavan and former union minister Mallikarjuna Kharge have already given up subsidy, the minister said.

Pradhan also asked Minister for Youth Empowerment and Sports Abhayachandra Jain to give up the subsidy on LPG cylinders.

“The CSR fund of the MRPL will be utilised for district itself,” he promised. The minister also promised to complete Lady Goschen Hospital building at the earliest. With the commissioning of Polypropylene unit, a number of downstream plastic processing industries which use polymer for producing plastic products are likely to be developed in the region, he added.

Minister for Youth Empowerment and Sports Abhayachandra Jain and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel urged the MRPL to give employment to the members of the families that were displaced by the project. The pollution issue raised by the villagers also needs to be looked into, they added.

Pradhan also handed over keys of the toilets constructed by the MRPL at Government High Schools in Soorinje, Chelyaru, Nadugodu, Mulki, Bokkapattana, Bunder and Kenjar on the occasion.

Leaders give up subsidy
The prominent names of those who have given up subsidy on LPG cylinders in Dakshina Kannada district are MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, former minister Krishna Palemar, MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik, former minister Nagaraj Shetty, Corporator Tilakraj, former mayor Ganesh Hosabettu, MRPL MD H Kumar and others.