Coke denies causing loss to plant area in Kerala

As the Kerala government today decided to set up a special tribunal to realise compensation from Coca Cola, the company stuck to its stand that the very constitution of the experts' panel was based on "pre-determined and unproven conclusions" that the plant had caused loss to the people in the area.

In its reaction to the cabinet decision, Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd said in a statement that numerous scientific studies and investigations by independent experts and the Kerala Government itself had shown that the plant was not the cause of local water-shed issues.

"We have given our views in the past that the Jayakumar Committee was set up with the pre-determined and unproven conclusion that the operations of the HCCB Pvt Ltd have caused loss to the residents of Plachimada."

"It is our opinion that any government committee or panel reviewing claims should first determine through an established process of law whether any damage was caused to the residents of Plachimada, and second, if such damage was caused, who was responsible," the statement said.