DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE COCA-COLA COMPANY

DAMAGE CAUSED BY
THE COCA-COLA COMPANY

The high power committee constituted by the government to study the extent of damage caused by the Coca-Cola plant at Plachimada in Palakkad district has recommended that a dedicated institution should be set to adjudicate individual claims for compensation. In its report submitted to water Resource Minister N.K Premachandran on Monday 22nd March ,2010, the Committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary Mr K. Jayakumar,said the Cola Company had caused multi-sectoral damage amounting to Rs 216.26 crore- through the operation of its plant and other actions, and was obliged to pay compensation to the affected.
It recommended that the state government could either set up a tribunal under article 323 B of the constitution or request the center to form an authority under the Environment (Protection) Act to determine the Compensation and enforce the payment.
The Committee observed that the company had violated the water ( Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, the Environment ( Protection Act, the factories Act.
The panel estimated that the loss on the agriculture front would come to Rs 84.16 crore. The damage on the health front came to Rs 30 crore besides Rs 20 crore wage loss and opportunity cost. The cost of providing water to the villages came to 20 crore. It also estimated the damage from the pollution of water resources at Rs 62.10 crore.
The committee has been to the conclusion that the Company in responsible for these damages and it is obligatory that they pay the compensation to the affected people for the agricultural losses, health problems, loss of wages, loss of educational opportunities and the pollution caused to the water resources. The value of water extracted and depleted has not been calculated though it needs to be compensated' The 14 member committee consisted of officials and experts in law, environment, health and water resources.
Prof. John Kurakar