Jokatte residents claim water pollution

The polluted water of the lake near MRPL Phase III at Jokatte, near Mangalore on Tuesday. Photo: H. S. Manjunath

A lake is brimming with water, weeds giving it a greenish coating. Kites, egrets and water waders are flying about, but the trees are either wilting or have dried up, leafless and lifeless.

Several residents of Jokatte and surrounding villages blame the Sulphur and Coke units at the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemical Limited (MRPL) Phase III plant for pollution of the lake near Thokur Railway station.

“During summers, residents of Jokatte and Permude used to grow crop on this fertile land. And after the monsoons, they used to catch the fish here…Now because of the chemicals, all the fish died last year, while the ground has become infertile,” said B.S. Hussain, a retired government official who stays nearby.

The quality of water in the area – whether it is through underground water accessed through borewell and open wells, or through lakes and streams – has deteriorated over the past year, said the residents.

Asmath, a homemaker, who lives near the Jokatte railway gate, said even after spending Rs. 1.5 lakh for industrial purifiers, the reddish water of their two open wells is not potable. “The colour of rice changes and it gets spoilt if we cook in this water. We are forced to get drinking water from outside,” she said.

Resident Jamaat Mayyidi said nearly eight houses rely on tanker supply to provide clean drinking water.

Air pollution

Apart from water pollution, the residents contend they have to deal with noise, dust and nauseous smoke on a daily basis. “We are seeing a rise in skin ailments and asthma-related problems,” said Muralidhara, a doctor at the Government Ayush clinic.

In an official statement, MRPL has said “all possible pollution control measures” have been taken by the company.

“At MRPL, air and sound monitoring is being done throughout the day and drinking wells water is being checked every quarter. All reports indicate that there is no cause for concern for the people of Jokatte,” said the company.

Apart from developing a green belt, the company has used sprinklers, closed conveyor system, and installation of screens to reduce dust and smoke.

To highlight the problems of the residents, Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has scheduled a protest in the city on October 10 at the Deputy Commissioner’s office.