Mangaluru: Several residents including school children in the Jokatte region on Wednesday complained of ‘particle pollution’, which deposits ‘black particulate matter’, in that their houses, wells and other buildings due to the functioning of coke and sulphar units in the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. (MRPL).

Earlier, residents under the banner of Nagarika Horata Samithi, Jokatte, came to the streets demanding the immediate closure of Coke and Sulphar Unit. After from submitting memorandum to the deputy commissioner and ministers, the residents had staged several protests. However, they claim that their plea was unheard.

On Wednesday, the school children showed their hands with particulate matter. When asked Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), they said that they visited the spot and confirmed that it had witnessed deposits of particulate matter. He said that the samples would be analyzed and a report would be submitted to local unit of KSPCB.

Muneer Katipalla, Democratic Youth Federation of India leader, alleged that the particles were due to the functioning of MRPL’s coke unit, which is close to Jokkatte village. Many families have left their houses and living in their relatives houses. While, few want to go but there is alternative”, he said.

However, the MRPL has been maintaining that all parameters as required by the rules are under control.