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May 02, 2005
Anti Coca Cola campaign: Happenings on the ground at Plachimada and India
The last month has been very hectic for those involved in the Anti- Coca Cola campaign across the globe, especially in India and the USA, where a verdict from the Kerala High Court sparked off protests and agitations. This update is about the activities in India.
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1. An Anti-Coke march was held to Kerala HC regarding the Kerala High Court permitting soft drinks major Coca Cola to draw five lakh litres of ground water a day for its bottling plant at Plachimada in Palakkad district.
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Report (translated) from Mathrubhumi newspaper: Agitation Against Coca Cola Intensifies
Palakkad: The protest against coca cola is intensifying in the context
of the permission granted by the High Court to Coca Cola to function.
Kerala High Court judgement
The protesters are firm that the company would not be allowed to
operate even if the authorities make all the arrangements for its
operation. While appeal against the High Court judgement would be
filed in the Supreme Court, the agitation against coca cola would be
intensified. Activists of AIYF would march to Plachimada Coca Cola
plant on Monday.
With the agitations having crossed 1084 days, and three years
completing on April 22, more individuals and organisations have
declared support to the struggle.
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Coca Cola press release on the Kerala High Court order: Soft drink major abiding by Kerala High Court order
Apr 18, 2005 08:34:00 PM
Chennai, Apr 18 (PTI) Soft drinks major Coca Cola today said it was abiding by the Kerala High court's order on drawing water for its Plachimada plant in Palakkad district of Kerala, it was yet to decide the next course of action.
"The latest is we are abiding by the court order. We have not yet decided
our next step," Coca Cola India Vice President, Marketing, Vikas Gupta told reporters here.
On April 7, the Kerala High Court had permitted the softdrinks company's bottling plant at Plachimada to draw ground water not exceeding five lakh litres a day and held that the Perumatty panchayut in Palakaad district was not justified in refusing the renewal of licence to the plant before a scientific assessment had been made.
A Division Bench, comprising Justice M Ramachandran and Justice K P Balachandran, granted permission to Coca Cola Beverages Ltd while allowing its appeal seeking permission to resume production at its Plachimada plant.
The Bench, however, said the company had no right to accumulate water in case of non-utilisation of the said quantity per day.
The Bench directed the panchayat to grant permission to the company if they possessed licence under the Factories Act and clearance received from the Pollution control board.
Regarding grant of licence by the panchayat, Gupta said his company had filed an application to the panchayat and was awaiting its response. PTI
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2. Special Leave Petition against Kerala HC verdict permitting Coke plant to draw water.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
http://news.newkerala.com/Kerala_News/102.shtml
New Delhi, Apr 20 : A village panchayat in Kerala today approached the
Supreme Court challenging the High Court judgement permitting Coca
Cola's bottling plant at Plachimada in Palakaad district to draw
ground water to the extent of five lakh litres a day.
"We have filed a Special Leave Petition before the apex Court against the judgement of the Kerala High Court on the issue," a lawyer
representing the Preumatti panchayat said.
The matter is likely to be listed for hearing next week.
The High Court on April 7 had held that the panchayat, where the plant
was located, was not justified in refusing the renewal of licence to
the plant before a scientific assessment had been made.
The Bench has also asked the panchayat to grant licence to the company
within two weeks if they possessed licence under the Factories Act and
had clearance from the Pollution Control Board.
The judgement was passed while disposing of a batch of writ appeals by
the Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Ltd seeking permission to start
production at its plant and challenging the panchayat's refusal to
renew the licence.
The bottling plant has been closed since March 21, 2004.
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3. 22 April 2005 Anti-Cola People’s Confluence: Plachimada
Plachimada Solidarity Committee
Plachimada, Kannimari, Palakkad, Kerla, India
Phone: 9847142513
The struggle by the indigenous people against the exploitation and
pollution of water of Coca Cola Company at Plachimada completed three
years on 22 April 2005. The Anti Coca Cola Struggle Committee and
Plachimada Solidarity Committee have already firmly declared that the
Cola Company, which has obtained permission to extract 500,000 litres
from the High Court, would not be permitted to operate in Plachimada.
On 22 April 2005 an Anti-Cola People's Confluence was organised
at Plachimada to commence the next phase of intense agitation with
the support of all people.
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4. 27th April, 2005: Coca Cola refused license by local Panchayat:
http://www.countercurrents.org/gl-thampan270405.htm The Perumatty grama panchayath (local council) yesterday refused to renew the license of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverage Limited at Plachimada, in the Indian state of Kerala. This is the latest twist in the tale of long protracted battle between the Coca-Cola company and the villagers who fight for their right over drinking water. The Panchayath unanimously decided to reject an application submitted by Coca-Cola on April 13 to renew its licence as it had not submitted along with the application the clearance of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board and a licence issued under the Factories Act. On April 7, 2005 the Division Bench of the Kerala High Court had ordered the panchayath to grant licence to the company if it submitted an application within two weeks along with the above certificates.
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Posted by collective at May 02, 2005 11:31 AM
dear Author. this news is very good to know about the struggle agaist the coco cola company in kerala. i appreciate this at the same time the verdict of High court of keral may be posted as it is. i hope in future u will make sufficient steps thanking you!!1
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