MRPL phase IV expansion will gain pace once land issues are solved: MD

Mangaluru: MRPL managing director (additional charge) Sanjay Varma said that the CPSE Miniratna is studying the reconfiguration for MRPL’s fourth phase of expansion. However, the expansion works will gain pace, with huge investment, once the state government hands over about 800 acres for the project. He told reporters on Wednesday, that MRPL had made some plans for expansion, but they are having a re-look at it, as those plans were drawn up before the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The business environment is fast changing because of climate change and e-vehicles coming in. We are looking into what kind of process units or products we can make, which can make our company contribute towards import substitution. Petrochemicals and pharma intermediates are imported from foreign countries, especially from China. Since the refinery has a molecule which can make a pharmaceutical intermediate, we are trying to study the configuration, and looking into the demand and import substitution,” he said.
However, Verma said that at this point in time they are a bit constrained, because of the non-availability of land. “A number of litigations are in the Supreme Court that has held up the acquisition process. The moment the land issue is resolved, the phase IV expansion will be expedited,” said Varma.
Meanwhile, MRPL has in-principle agreed to establish a green belt on 27 acres in Jokatte, and the works will start once the land is made available.
Recruitment process on
Varma clarified that the process of recruitment for 50 posts in the non-management cadre at MRPL is being held as per the norms laid down by the government.
Soon after MRPL opened its portal for online submission of applications for the 50 posts, the Congress and DYFI demanded to stop this recruitment process, stating that it has no provision to provide compensatory employment to 450 families who lost their land for MRPL expansion. Acting swiftly, Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and Mooddbidri MLA Umanth Kotian held a meeting with MRPL officials.
Varma said that the present rules allow people from across the country to apply for the job. He said 66% of their employees on permanent rolls and 89% of the secondary workforce are from Karnataka. More locals are likely to join MRPL in the coming days, as the board has given directions to hold campus recruitment drives in NITK and MAHE.