Environment Minister Krishna J Palemar and the environment Department have now raised concern over two major companies in Mangalore. The Mangalore Refinery Petroleum Limited (MRPL) and BASF, a German firm have the “capacity” to generate such high levels of pollution. “The pollution figures are 73 on a scale of 100 in Mangalore and only two companies have the capacity to emit pollutant into the waters directly. The report has said the pollution levels were higher in Mangalore than other centres, said Palemar.
At a workshop on conservation of Western Ghats here, Palemar said a team was sent from Bangalore on January 22 to Mangalore.
An eight-month moratorium will be in force for sanctioning industries in Mangalore.
Sources said that BASF which had faced charge of polluting water bodies. However the company had got clearances from the Central government agencies that the effluents discharged by it was not harmful.