A top official at the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemical Limited (MRPL), said that the maintenance work and all other work dependant on water has been halted. The official did not wish to be identified added that the work has been halted due to shortage of water.
The official said, “Entire exports from MRPL and LPG for the domestic market will be affected”. A week back the Phase III and Phase II units of the refinery have been shut down.
The units have been shut down after the water supply from the Nethravathi river has been substantially reduced to MRPL on April 11. The reduction in the water supply has been effected by the Dakshina Kannada district administration after which the company has approached the Karnataka High Court.
The first hearing on the water issue was heard on April 19, 2012 and the next was expected to be heard on April 20, 2012. The official said, “Everything is shut down…none of the units can work without water”. The refinery needs water for the processing of crude. After the reduction in the water supply the a gradual shut down at the refinery begun on April 11, 2012. The officials also said that the crisis was temporary and unpredictable.
