Bengaluru: The Commerce and Industries Department of the state government on Wednesday directed the Mangalore Refineries and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) to take measures to comply with environmental clearance conditions within a stipulated time.

In an order, the department had directed the MRPL to acquire necessary land between the MRPL and the affected Jokatte village for the development of a green belt and buffer zone and also stop storing sulphur in open yard.

The company has been asked to provide a covered shed for this purpose before June, 2017, the order stated.

Following several complaints from residents of Jokatte village, the government had formed a committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner to look into the complaints. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board had also formed a separate technical committee to examine the complaint.

Both the committees had prepared an action plan after inspecting the affected places, and holding several rounds of discussions with the MRPL officials. The MRPL had agreed to implement the action plan prepared jointly by the committee to mitigate pollution. The government has issued an order based on the action plan, reported Deccan Herald.