Water shortage forces chemical units to cut production in Dakshina Kannada

Severe water shortage has forced government agencies to take drastic steps to curtail the usage of river water in Dakshina Kannada district and Mangalore city of Karnataka. This has affected the manufacturing industries in the sector.
 
Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), a subsidiary of ONGC that operates refinery in Dakshin Kannada region, on April 26, 2016 initiated partial shutdown of certain units and reduced capacity of some other units. “Considering the acute water shortage in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka and the restrictions imposed by the district administration in pumping river water for industrial use, MRPL has initiated partial shutdown of certain units and also running some units on reduced capacity without disrupting fuel production and supplies to the extent possible,” said MRPL in a BSE filing on April 26, 2016.
   
The depletion of reservoir level at Thumbe and delayed pre-monsoon showers have resulted in the acute water shortage in Dakshina Kannada district and Mangalore city. Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd (MCF), a subsidiary of Zuari Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited, informed that the city corporation/district administration has stopped water supply to the company from the midnight of April 26, 2016. “Thus, the company has initiated operation of ammonia and urea plants at reduced capacity for next about 4 days and thereafter, depending upon availability of water, continuing operation of the urea plant will be decided,” informed MCF to BSE on April 27, 2016.