Mangaluru, Jul 11: Accusing the public sector company Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemical Limited (MRPL) of continuing to violate pollution control norms by running the coke and sulphur recovery units illegally even after the license from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) had expired on June 30, members of the Jokatte Nagarika Horata Samiti (Citizens Action Committee), Jokatte demanded that the units should be shut down failing which the Samiti would intensify its protests.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, chief advisor of Samiti Muneer Katipalla said that the coke and sulphur production units in the refinery located close to Jokatte and neighbouring villages continued to flout the norms laid by the KSPCB despite several protests and show-cause notices sent to the company against the pollution and contamination of air and water sources. The KSPCB has sent three show cause notices to the company till date, warning them to control the pollution caused by the units. Inspite of all the efforts to shut down the refinery units, the pollution has not stopped. Even during the rains, the coke dust in the atmosphere settles down on the houses of the local villagers and causes problems. In a recent case, a 60-year-old woman named Isamma living in Jokatte died of lung cancer with her medical report pointing to the pollution as its cause, he said.
He said that in a recent development, a committee had been formed by the KSPCB consisting of environmental experts such as NITK professor Dr Shriniketan, KSPCB officials, MRPL board members and representatives from the Nagarika Horata Samiti, to conduct meetings and take further decisions in this regard. However, although the issue is a serious one, no meetings have been initiated till date, he alleged.
He also said that the Deputy Commissioner had sent a proposal to the state government to set up a separate committee headed by the district in-charge minister. Since the coke and sulphur units have been operating illegally from July 1 onwards without renewing its license, the district administration should take the initiative to shut them down, he demanded.
Police raids on protestors
Mr Katipalla further alleged that after several attempts by the refinery to quench the continuous protests by the Horata Samiti and local villagers, the company had resorted to using police force to stop further agitations. Along with police raids on the protestors and villagers during their demonstrations, the police have registered cases against members of the Horata Samiti on false charges of damaging company property and disrupting law and order in the area. Furthermore, the police security personnel have tried to halt further demonstrations by spreading fear among the villagers, he said, alleging that the local ACP Madan Gaonkar had threatened action against the protestors.
“The Horata Samiti will continue to hold agitations against the company till the coke and sulphur units are shut down. In the coming days, there will be intensified protests demanding closure of the pollution-causing units. If no action is taken by the district administration or elected representatives, the Samiti will hold an agitation in front of the Vidhana Soudha in the state capital so that the ministers take notice of the seriousness of the issue,” he informed.
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