Villagers hurl stones at wind break-wall construction workers at MRPL’s coke yard

Villagers hurl stones at wind break-wall construction workers at MRPL’s coke yard

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, April 24, 2015 :  Residents of Jokatte and nearby villages began to hurl stones  at workers who were installing a 30 feet high wind break-wall at the coke yard of the refinery  on April 23, Thursday evening.

Muneer Katipalla of Nagarika Horata Samithi of Jokatte alleged that the villagers resorted to protest as they were not convinced that the 30-feet high wind break-wall being raised by MRPL would be able to check pollution in the nearby areas.

The wall is being raised   after the  Karnataka State Pollution  Control Board served two notices to MRPL  directing it to take preventive measures to check pollution owing to the coke dust that flies towards residential areas from the yard.

ACP Ravi Kumar  said the police team which rushed to the spot, dispersed the villagers who had gathered at the place and were hurling stones. Following the protest the workers had left the place by then, he said and added so far no police complaint has been filed.