Mangaluru : Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim said on Thursday that a letter would be sent to the State government for the acquisition of land in Jokatte and Neermaje that are facing air pollution problems from Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited’s coke and sulphur recovery units.

Talking to presspersons here after going around the affected areas on Thursday, Mr. Ibrahim said that residents have been facing problems because of the dust from the two units. MRPL was making efforts to address the problem.

Earlier, Mr. Ibrahim and Director (Refinery) of MRPL Laxminarayan and Karnataka Pollution Control Board’s Environment Officer Rajashekar Puranik went around the affected places.

Muneer Katipalla from Jokatte Nagarika Hitarakshana Vedike accompanied the officials.

Mr. Ibrahim and other officials visited houses and inspected wells in Jokatte area where deposits of black dust were seen. They also inspected Bhajana Mandir and the adjoining auditorium.

Mr. Ibrahim tasted water from the well in the house adjoining Yuvaka Mandali in Jokatte.

He also visited areas near the coke dumping yard and also the sulphur recovery unit. Residents of Neermunje accused officials of selectively acquiring lands for the Special Economic Zone.

They also alleged of problems to new born in their area from the water polluted because of deposits of black ash.