MRPL pollution: ‘Committee formation a welcome move, but why we were left out?’

Mangaluru, Aug 22: Welcoming the state government's move to constitute an official committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada AB Ibrahim to deliberate on the pollution caused by the coke and sulphur manufacturing units in the Phase III of Mangalore Refineries and Petrochemical Limited (MRPL) and its harmful consequences after ten months of struggle, members of the Nagarika Horata Samiti, Jokatte urged that other developmental projects set up in Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) should also be brought under the purview of the newly-formed committee.

Addressing media persons at a press conference here on Friday, Nagarika Horata Samiti advisor and DYFI state president Muneer Katipalla said that members of the official committee formed included the district MP, two local MLAs, Commissioner of Mangaluru City Police, MCC Commissioner, Zilla Panchayat CEO, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) regional officer, director of Industries department, managing directors of MRPL and MSEZ, and three representatives from Jokatte gram panchayat.

He expressed dissatisfaction at the fact that the government had suggested merely three representatives from the concerned gram panchayat, although several villages had been affected by the pollution caused by the coke and sulphur units. He also objected to the government leaving out Nagarika Horata Samiti members from committee.

This is akin to neglecting the problems and threats posed by other dangerous chemical units existing in MSEZ, and sidelining other issues plaguing the locals. Apart from this, the committee invites merely three representatives on behalf of several villages affected by the pollution from coke and sulphur units such as Jokatte, Kenjar, Kalavar and Kulai, he said, pointing that this served to undermine the voices opposing the manufacturing units during the meetings held by the committee.

Mr Katipalla also questioned the non-inclusion of concerned members of zilla panchayat, taluk panchayat or councillors from Mangaluru City Corporation in the committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner.

He further said that despite the permit for the manufacturing units issued by the KSPCB having expired on June 30, the units continued to operate illegally from the past few weeks. However, neither the district administration or the KSPCB have taken any action against the units, he said.

Nagarika Horata Samiti members B H Moidin, Mohammed Sharief, B K Imtiyaz Santhosh Kumar Bajal and others were present in the press conference.