Mangaluru: The huge machines in the Mangaluru Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) have gone defunct from nearly a month. The roaring of machines at Mangaluru Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) has come down as MRPL has taken up the partial shutdown of its units without disrupting the fuel production and supplies. Due to this, the residents of Jokatte, Kenjar, Maravoor, Kalavara Thokur and other surrounding villages are now heaving a sigh of relief.
Earlier, these residents were forced to endure noise, air and water pollution, round the clock. After the inception of the industries, the residents had to forgo breathing fresh air, consuming fresh water and living in a noise-free environment. They kept complaining to the district administration about the air, water and sound pollution. When they could not find any solution, it became inevitable for them to adjust to the prevailing situation.
As MSEZ and MRPL preferred to shut down, owing to shortage of water and its annual shut down, the residents are leading a normal life since a few days. However, the SSLC and PUC students feel now that they could have studied well if the shut down had happened in the examination season. However, the degree students are fortunate and are preparing for their examinations in a calm environment.
The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) State President Muneer Katipalla backed the residents of these villages in their fight against coke and sulphur manufacturing units, which were causing mild to severe skin problems to the people along with respiratory ailments. Katipalla told newskarnatka.com that though MSEZ and MRPL shut their operations for a few days every year, it was for the first time that they were suspending operations for nearly a month. “Now the surrounding areas of MRPL are calm and quiet”, he added.
However, the same situation would not prevail for long. Once the catchment area of Nethravathi gets enough rainfall, the inflow into the river would start again and the industries would start functioning again. Then, it is inevitable for these residents to adjust to the roaring of the industries.
