Mangaluru : Activists and residents of Jokatte under the aegis of Nagarika Horata Samiti on Monday staged a demonstration in front of the office of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board in Baikampady Industrial Estate.

The demonstration was to demand action against Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited for the alleged air and water pollution from their coke yard and sulphur recovery units operating in phase 3 area.

Muneer Katipalla from the samiti said that residents of Jokatte and the surrounding areas continued to bear the black dust from the coke yard. There was no reduction in the foul smell for residents from the sulphur recovery units. The board had only issued two showcause notices to the MRPL and has sat quiet.

“We do not need a board that is inactive,” he said. Mr. Katipalla wanted the board not to renew licence for operation of the two units that comes to an end by July.

B.S. Hussain, convenor of the samiti, said that despite concerns shown by the Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan to the problems of residents during this recent visit no visible action has been taken so far. The residents are still not hearing about formation of the committee headed by Deputy Commissioner to consider acquisition of properties affected by air pollution from the two units.

Meanwhile, the local officials from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board said they are waiting for the orders of the board following reply of MRPL stating actions taken to prevent pollution. The MRPL has maintained that the two units were not polluting and measures were being taken to maintain air quality within prescribed level.