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MRPL havoc: black particulate matter found all over

After reports of houses, wells and other buildings in Jokatte witnessing widespread deposits of “black particulate matter”, the district administration has taken it up with Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. (MRPL).

While the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) confirmed that it had witnessed deposits of particulate matter, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sadashiva Prabhu told The Hindu that he had taken up the problem with MRPL. A KSPCB official said he visited the spot at 7.30 a.m. on Tuesday. The matter was found deposited in a school, a bhajana mandir and at least 25 houses, besides wells. The samples would be analysed and a report would be submitted to local unit of KSPCB.

Muneer Katipalla, Democratic Youth Federation of India leader, alleged that the particles had come from MRPL’s coke unit. Mr. Prabhu said the KSPCB had instructed the company to take preventive steps. The MRPL managing director said they would immediately put a screen to prevent the dust from polluting nearby areas. MRPL had also promised to immediately ensure that the ambient air quality is monitored round the clock. It was being done twice a week now, Mr. Prabhu said.

The KSPCB official said the particulate matter – which is not dust – could cause or aggravate lung-related diseases.

MRPL has been maintaining that all parameters as required by the rules are under control. On the specific instance of particulate matter depositing on buildings, an MRPL spokesperson said, “if they have collected samples, let them prove it.”
  • Published in Mangaluru

Jokatte people find new way to fight against MRPL, SEZ

Mangaluru: Tired of holding protests against MRPL and SEZ, residents of Jokatte are now trying different ways to fight against these giant companies.

The locals are now sitting on the places where the works of MRPL and SEZ are in progress. The women of the region are tying beedi by sitting inside the temporary tents built in the region where the works are going on. If this is not enough, these women have kept brooms aside to run away the officers who come to take up the charge of the work.

While women keep an eye on the vicinity in day time, men keep vigil at night. So far the new way of protest is said to be almost success and peaceful.
  • Published in Mangaluru
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