Mangaluru, November 14: A unique protest was organised by the Jokatte Nagarika Horaata Samithi on Thursday, November 13th at HPCL entrance against the oil leakage from MRPL to the nearest stream.
The locals under the banner of Jokatte Nagarika Horata Samiti staged a protest, blocking a stream flowing close to the MRPL gate by placing many sacks of soil. However, the protesters turned wild for some time when senior manager administration Y D Salian rushed to the spot to pacify the protests claiming it was mechanical failure that caused oil leakage.
The protesters led by DYFI state president Muneer Katipalla alleged that MRPL has been releasing waste into the stream and fortunately the locals observed it on Wednesday, November 12th. Muneer said that if the authorities of the company do not take measures to stop the willful release of waste through the stream, the residents would intensify the protests. Some time ago when the protest was staged against the problems faced due to Coke and Sulphur plants of MRPL, it was alleged that the protest was carried with a bad intention.
Muner demanded that the district administration and the government should provide clarification on this matter.
B H Moideen Sharief Co-convener of Jokatte Nagarika Horata Samiti showing contaminated water stored in a bottle expressed this was polluted water taken from the stream on Tuesday after MRPL released waste into it. Flock of women protested along with the men told that their wells were polluted. They cursed the MRPL for disrupting their lives. Babi, one of the women protesters told bad smell emanating from the units was unbearable and due to this she couldn’t breathe fresh air.
Convener of the Nagarika Horaata Samithi b S Hussain Jokatte, DYFI district president and MCC president Dayanand Shetty, Santhosh Bajal, Co-Convener of the Nagarika Horaata Samithi B H Mohideen Sharif, Nazir Jokatte, Bava Panchayat Gudde, Madhava, village panchayat president Shekunhi, member Shamshuddin, Mayyaddi, Hakim, former member of taluk panchayat T A Khader, Shariff Nirmunje and others were present.