Coca-Cola Company has not applied for clearance from the State government to set up a plant at Perundurai in Erode district, Environment Minister Thoppu N.D. Venkatachalam informed the Assembly on Monday.
Replying to CPI (M) member K. Balakrishnan during a debate, the Minister said if the company applies and if it was against the interests of people and farmers, AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa would be consulted and a decision would be taken. He assured that any project that affected the interests of farmers would not get government backing.
Referring to the State government’s stand on GAIL issue, Mr. Venkatachalam said the government had always defended the interests of farmers.