Mangaluru : The Jokatte Nagarika Horata Samiti members said they will be forced to carry out protests before the houses of three Ministers, two MLAs and the MP if the government failed to take any action against the alleged air and water pollution caused by the coke and sulphur recovery units of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL).

Talking to reporters here on Friday, Muneer Katipalla from the Samiti said Environment Minister B. Ramanath Rai, Health Minister U.T. Khader and Minister of State of Youth Affairs and Sports K. Abhayachandra Jain have failed to take note of the concerns of Jokatte residents on the problems caused by the two units. MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has also failed to hear Jokatte residents, they said.

Mr. Katipalla accused MRPL of continuing to operate the two units despite expiry on June 30 of licence granted by the Karnataka Pollution Control Board. He said a few days ago Jokatte residents had seen black dust settling on houses, apparently emitted from the units. The KSPCB officials were investigating this incident, he said.

Mr. Katipalla accused city Assistant Commissioner of Police Madan Gaonker of taking action against Samiti members at the instance of MRPL authorities.

He said the Samiti will continue its fight against MRPL in front of the Jokatte and Bala Gram Panchayat where some of their members have been elected as Panchayat members.

The MRPL, however, have contented that they are following all the necessary norms and have taken steps to prevent pollution from the coke and sulphur units.