MRPL Ph4, Govt. asked to drop land allotment

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, June 23, 2016:Reports underscore that the DYFI, Democratic Youth Federation of India, has demanded that the State government  immediately withdraw the land acquisition order favouring MRPL,  Mangalore Refineries and Petrochemicals Ltd., for its proposed Phase IV expansion.

In a statement on June 22, Wednesday, DYFI State President Muneer Katipalla said the government has accepted MRPL’s demand for another 1,050 acres of land in Permude, Yekkar, Surinje, Thokur, Baikampady and surrounding villages for the expansion project.

He said residents of Mangaluru taluk have lost vast extent of land in a phased manner for various industries, including three phases of MRPL, Special Economic Zone and others. MRPL has miserably failed to fulfill its promise of providing employment to the local youth or those who have lost lands for the project, he said.

On the other hand, products of MRPL,  violation of pollution control norms and setting up production units close to residential areas have rendered miserable living conditions of the residents of surrounding areas due to unbridled environment pollution, Katipalla alleged.  Ground water too is  polluted and residents have been suffering from increased health risks, he added.

The lands sought for further expansion have dense population as well as agricultural plots and are not at all suitable for industrial purpose.  Futher acquisition of land could lead to multiple problems, the government should drop land acquisition proceedings, Katipalla claimed.