Mangaluru: Residents of Jokatte observed a half-day bandh on Wednesday, demanding closure of the Sulphur and Coke plants, which are functioning at Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemical Limited (MRPL).

As part of the bandh, residents of Jokatte and surrounding villages came out to the streets and took out a procession from the Jokatte Railway gate to their gram panchayat – which is right behind MRPL. They shouted slogans against the plant and claimed that the two new plants are causing air and noise pollution.

Later, the residents – led by Jokatte Nagarika Horata Samiti – called off the bandh at 2pm after the panchayat agreed to hold grama sabhe (village meeting) in the presence of higher officials at 10 am on December 7.

B.S Hussain, convener of the samiti asked the residents to call off the bandh from afternoon, he said the additional deputy commissioner has asked to submit a report about MRPL’s mistreatment.

Social activist Muneer Katipalla asked the concerned authority not to ignore the people as it is directly affecting the health. The people cant spend a day peacefully. There is so much of foul smell, which is being emanated from these plants. The district administration has not acted on our pleas. This protest is not the end. We will continue to demand our right to live until they respond”, he said.