PALAKKAD: Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Private Limited at Plachimada, near here, which was closed for the last 17 months, began a trial run of the plant on Monday, as a prelude to actual production, which will begin shortly.

The vice-president of Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Private Limited, Deep Jolly, told The Hindu from New Delhi that the plant at Plachimada began a trial run to prepare the plant for production.

He said that the company has complied with the April 7 order of the Division Bench of the Kerala High Court.

As directed by the court, the company was distributing drinking water to the local people for the last three weeks. The other directives of the court were also complied with.

A spokesman said that the company was continuing its dialogue with the Panchayat authorities and the local people in a bid to get their cooperation in reopening the plant.

The company started production on March 13, 2000. But in March 2004 it was closed after the Government directed it not to draw groundwater till the monsoon in the face of severe drought in Palakkad district.

However, the company could not be reopened after the monsoon, as the Perumatty Grama Panchayat had cancelled its licence and stopped them from drawing groundwater.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Coca Cola Agitation Committee protested against the move to reopen the company. They have petitioned to the Revenue Divisional Officer and the Chittur Tehsildar against the company. These officials visited the company on Monday and found that production was yet to start.

The company authorities told the officials that they were complying with the High Court order and only a trial run was undertaken on Monday.

RDO E.D. Shivashankar after holding discussions with panchayat president A. Krishnan, Anti-Coca Cola Agitation Committee Chairman R. Ajayan and others said that he could not stop the company from trial run as they had the required licences and permission from the court.

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