Mangaluru : Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) District President Muneer Katipalla has alleged that the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) has failed to take safety measures at its coke and sulphur unit in spite of repeated warnings by Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).

The forum has also planned a black flag protest, along with Nagarikara Horata Samiti Jokatte against the oil firm during Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s visit on April 5.

Briefing reporters, on Friday, he said Minister Abhaychandra Jain had responded to the problem with a letter to the company about problems caused by the coke and sulphur unit. Later KSPCB had written three letters to MRPL.

In its observation, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) had clearly mentioned that the open wells in the nearby residents are contaminated due to falling of dust from Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) – III Phase plant operation.
The officials had also visited the schools, anganwadis and collected water samples from nearby wells.

It opined that MRPL was negligent regarding selection of suitable site for the establishment, operation, management and handling petrochemicals product Pet coke, he said.

At first the company tried to defend that no pollution is going on in the area. Later, it submitted the list of precautionary measures it is following to stop pollution. KSPCB was not happy as there were no time bound action plans.

The KSPCB environment officer also asked why he shall not recommend the Board to issue closure order for operation of pet coke Silos and storage yard and also to initiate further course of action as per the provisions of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 for not following suitable pollution control measures, he said.

“However for the third letter, though it is around 20 days after sending, the company is yet to give reply to the KSPCB. The Board should take stringent action against the company and it should not let the firm to run coke and sulphur unit. We oppose opening of any new units when there are so many allegations against the MRPL,” he said.

For the show cause notice dated March 4, regarding Non compliance under provisions under Air act 1981, the MRPL has replied on March 7.

The MRPL in turn has explained in detail the pollution control measures / systems already in place and under implementation. The following major aspects of pollution control measures are in place: Closed conveyor system for transfer of Petcoke; Dry Fog type suppression system; plain water Automatic dust suppression system; Dust screens ; Maximum Loading from silos for both Petcoke and Sulphur and Commitment to install 30 Ft Wind breaker.