Affected residents living in the vicinity of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), an Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) company, protested against the refinery for causing alleged air, noise and water pollution.

 They are demanding imm-ediate suspension of sulphur and coke plants having experienced extreme air and noise pollution ever since the company partially commissioned its third phase expansion that includes sulphur and coke plants. The residents of the surrounding villages allegedly suffer from many diseases and their health is deteriorating due to the coke and sulphur manufacturing units. The official spokesperson of the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited has levelled allegations against the Jokatte Nagarika Horata Samiti (JNHS), claiming that the protests against phase III units were motivated and vested interests are largely at play to gain employment under Mangalore Special Economic Zone