Watershed issue: Coke rejects Kerala panel report

Coca Cola has rejected the report of the experts' committee set up by the Kerala government to assess losses caused by its plant at Palchimada, saying the panel was set up based on the "unproven assumption" that the company had caused damage in the area.

Reacting to the report presented to the government today, the company said, "It is our view that any government committee or panel reviewing claims should first determine through a process of law whether any damage was caused to residents of Palakkad, and if such damage was caused, who was responsible."

Numerous investigations sponsored by the state government and others had examined issues concerning the operations of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages plant at Plachimada, it said.

Based on scientific evaluation, the Palakkad plant operations had not been shown to be the cause of local watershed issues.

"It is unfortunate that the committee in Kerala was appointed on the unproven assumption that damage was caused and that it was caused by Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages," it said.

In these circumstances, there is little for us to comment upon, given the deliberations of a committee appointed with such a mandate, the company said in a release.