The Hindu : Kerala News : Coke rejects conditional licence, files another plea

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 10, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Coke rejects conditional licence, files another plea

Staff Reporter

Says panchayat move a rejection of court order

PALAKKAD: : Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited at Plachimada has rejected the three-month conditional licence issued by the Perumatty Grama Panchayat describing it as a violation of the High Court order.

The company, in its letter to the panchayat on June 8, 2005, said that "the grant of licence for a period of three months is arbitrary and in violation of High Court order of April 7, 2005 and as further clarified on June 1, 2005.

It is a step once again taken by the Panchayat in total disregard to the Rule of Law and also the judicial determination.''

It said that the Rule 8 of the Kerala Panchayati Raj (issue of licence to Dangerous and Offensive Trade and Factories) Rule, 1966 very clearly lay down the provision forlicence in respect of factory, industrial establishment etc. for a period five years.

The order, therefore, passed by the panchayat granting a three-month licence is against the statutory provision itself and further demonstrates that the panchayat is not taking steps in this matter fairly and justly in accordance with the statutory provision, but with a closed mind, the company said.

It has also filed another application for licence for two years. The company said the 13 conditions mentioned in the panchayat order are "well outside the powers entrusted to the Panchayat under the Panchayati Raj legislation for governance within the geographical boundaries as statutorily entrusted to the Panchayat.''

On social security measures, the company said that "the conditions stipulated by the High Court have already been fulfilled and it is the Panchayat which has not given us the information and details in respect of the utilisation of the corpus fund created by us for welfare of the local community and we await the Panchayat response in this regard in our letter of April 13, 2005 which did contain all the necessary and requisite detail.''

The company denied that its operations are causing health problems in the area.

``While the company operations cannot be the cause and the reason for the development of rashes on the body of the residents as alleged by the Panchayat, the discharge of the effluent is being and will be done by the company in accordance with the regulations and directions of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board, and sludge will be stored in the hazardous waste landfill site constructed within the factory premises under the instructions and guidance of the Central and State Pollution Control Board.''

The company also questioned the panchayat's rights on restricting the sourcing of the water from outside. However, the company will extract groundwater within the panchayat jurisdiction in terms of the High Court order, the letter said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala