Mangaluru : The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) on Monday protested what they alleged to be the failure of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board to contain pollution by the pet coke and sulphur units of the Mangalore Refineries and Petrochemicals Ltd.

The federation, which has been protesting against the alleged air and water pollution around the plant, especially in Jokatte and surrounding villages, pasted posters on the compound wall of the board’s office saying it had failed to act in the matter. Alleging that the board was protecting the plant, they demanded early action from the regulator.

The board has issued a show-cause notice to the petrochemical giant asking it why action should not be initiated for its failure to contain pollution. A senior officer with the board told The Hindu that the board is on the job and the process is on to do the needful to contain pollution. The plant has maintained that it was not polluting the atmosphere and that all parameters were within the specifications.