Mangalore : The people of Kuloor organized a protest in front of the DC’s office on April 28 Saturday against the Mangalore Special Economic Zone’s continuous dumping of mud into River Phalguni.

The people of Melakoppala and Athrebailu have been long protesting against the dumping of mud into River Phalguni, along a 1km stretch beside the KIOCL – Jokatte Railway Gate Road out of fear that it would lead to artificial floods during the monsoons.

When local people began protesting and complaining, organizations and social activists extended their support, after which the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) of the department of environment sent a notice to MSEZ directing it to remove the mud dumped into the river. Since the company failed to follow the directives within the given deadline of Friday, the people of Athrebailu and Melakoppalu once against organized a protest and shouted slogans against the company. They also submitted a memorandum to the additional deputy commissioner.

Mahesh Kumar, the assistant director of the CRZ of the ecology department, said that they had directed the company to remove mud dumped into the river along a 300-m stretch.

S. T. Karkera, the deputy general manager for MSEZ, said that the company had been directed to only remove the mud and not stop the work. He also stated that the company had a clearance letter from the CRZ.