Kerala HC ruling against Cola ban peeves NGOs

The Kerala High Court's quashing of the state government's ban on the manufacture and sale of Colas has evoked sharp reactions from non government organisations (NGOs).

While activists in Plachimada, which houses a closed Coke unit, said the judgement would not help the Cola majors open the unit, the Centre for Science and Environment said the order made it all the more essential for the Union Health Ministry to come out with its test report on the Colas.

The spokesperson for CSE said Union Health Minister had given a clean chit to the Colas in the last Parliament session on the basis of a test whose report has never been published. "Why should the ministry hide the report which clears the Colas?," he said.

The main premise of the court for the quashing of the ban on the colas was that it was a Union subject and the state has no say on the matter, especially as it has not made a required state legislation under the Central Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.

Vandana Shiva of Navadanya said Colas might have won in the High Court but the verdict of the people's court is still awaited.

Shiva said her group, along with several other NGOs, is planning a countrywide agitation in October.

Meanwhile, the people who have stalled opening of the Coke unit in Plachimada for over four years said the judgement was not going to help the company.R Ajayan of Plachimada Action Committee said the judgement would not help the company. The villagers will not allow reopening of the unit.

Besides the state government has said in the Assembly that tests have found contamination of the colas and it has every right to protect the citizens health.