Coke and other damages

The recommendation by the high-power committee constituted by the Kerala government to study the extent of damage caused by the Coca-Cola plant at Plachimada is highly warranted. The Coke Company has been asked to a damage amounting to Rs. 216.26 crore. And this compensation is quite inadequate for the damages caused by the company. A part of the compensation must be collected from those people who gave initial approval to install Coke plant in the drought-prone area.

The recommendation of the committee is a warning to all other polluting industries in the State. Many companies have violated various acts relating pollution Another typical example is McDowell company, Varanadu, Cherthala, where local people are now in collision course with the company. The company is polluting the entire area quite long. A recent survey in Thanneermukkom Panchayat revealed that one out of 100 men are prone to cancer in that area because of pollution from the company. The company waste dumped into Vembanadu lake has polluted the water bodies in the area and even fish caught from the lake is unsuited for consumption. The Government of Kerala should immediately constitute a committee to estimate the pollution level at Thanneermukkom caused by the illegal act of Ms McDowell and Co.

K A Solaman