Broomstick protest against MRPL by activists

Mangaluru: A procession holding broomsticks was taken out by the activists of the Nagarika Hitarakshana Samithi, Jokatte from the Clock Tower to the office of Deputy Commissioner urging the government to drop the fourth-phase expansion of MRPL on Thursday.

Protesting in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office holding broomsticks, the outfit demanded action against the company for not implementing six-point relief measures to prevent pollution from its coke-sulphur units, which they alleged.

The protest saw participation by people from Jokatte, Kalavaru and Thokur areas.

President of the state unit of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) Muneer Katipalla addressed the gathering and alleged that the company has failed to contain the spread of dust from its coke and sulphur units at the residential areas in Jokatte and nearby areas. The company had failed to implement the six-point relief measures, even though the government had asked it to do so. MP Nalin Kumar Kateel is also not bothered to address the sufferings of people in the three villages, he alleged.

The agitation against the company would be intensified if it did not implement the relief measures within 10 days, warned Muneer.