Newskarnataka – Mangalore

Mangalore: After the model code of conduct came into force with the announcement of the Lok Sabha poll schedule, the MRPL programme was cancelled at the last minute, on Wednesday March 5.

Union Petroleum  Minister M Veerappa Moily who was supposed to inaugurate the nation’s first strategic oil storage at Mangalore was forced to cancel other two events as well after the Election Commission announced the poll schedule.

“The events at Mangalore were scheduled for evening but the poll notification came in the morning so they had to be cancelled,” an official said.

Officials said Moily was to dedicate to the nation Mangalore Refinery’s expanded capacity of 15 million tons (from 11.8 million tons). The aromatic complex he was to inaugurate was built by ONGC Mangalore Petrochemicals Ltd – a joint venture of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd.

On the other hand members of All College Students Union had gathered near Mangalore International Airport at Bajpe expecting the arrival of Veerappa Moily. They had decided to protest against him for having approved the controversial Yettinahole project.