Open well on Patrao’s MRPL-acquired land catches fire

Open well on Patrao’s MRPL-acquired land catches fire

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Mar 25, 2012: A well known property of Gregory Patrao, a progressive farmer in Permude in Bajpe, mysteriously caught fire on March 25 Sunday.

The fire started out as sparks, at 9:20 a.m. on Sunday, when Patrao turned on the kerosene pump in the well that is located on his farm. The family had stopped using water from this well as the water had turned completely black; people believe this water could have been polluted because of the crude oil from MRPL, which is in the vicinity. Within a few minutes the sparks turned into a raging blaze, setting the water and the surrounding trees and plants on fire. The fire burned bright till 3:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, an MRPL press release states that the fire was lit deliberately on land acquired by the MRPL for the third phase of its project. Allegedly, someone set fire to the hydrocarbon accumulated on top of the open well on this acquired land. The fire and its origins are now being investigated.

MRPL security and safety personnel and fire fighters were allowed to enter the land only with police intervention, the release stated.

It also stated that farmer Patrao was illegally occupying the land although he has already taken compensation to vacate it.

According to the release, Patrao continues occupying MRPL land in spite of court orders and the order issued by the CM on the basis of a report submitted by M. V. Jayanthi, the divisional commissioner of Mysore. 

The release also said that MRPL has to relocate its polypropylene unit, which is supposed to come up on the disputed land. The company is also unable to proceed with the third phase of is project because the Patrao family continues to occupy the land, stated the release.