: Though there is resentment among the people of Perumatti grama panchayat in Palakkad over the return by the Union Home Ministry of the Plachimada Tribunal Bill, they still hope for a solution in their favour.
The predominantly tribal village was at the receiving end of groundwater exploitation and pollution caused by Coca-Cola. Denied justice, it is preparing for another round of agitations in front of the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram and Parliament in New Delhi seeking compensation.
Bill returned
The Bill, passed unanimously by the Assembly, was returned without being forwarded to the President for his assent. “Coca-Cola caused severe environmental degradation through excessive extraction of groundwater and irresponsible disposal of sludge. Water sources in the area have been affected, and water scarcity has become more acute,” says P. Murugesan, who was continuing the 12-year-old relay fast in front of the defunct unit on Tuesday.
“The company misguided farmers by passing off the sludge as manure, and is responsible for soil degradation, water contamination, and farm losses. Agriculture production and production of milk, meat, and eggs in the area have dipped,” he says.
“Metals such as cadmium, lead, and chromium have been detected in the sludge. Skin ailments and breathing problems among people have been on the rise,” says Arumugan Pathichira of the Plachimada Struggle Solidarity Committee.
Villagers feel the return of the Bill is part of delay tactics owing to pressure from the company.
“They never used the word return in the letter to the State government. Instead, the Home Ministry told the government to approach the Green Tribunal. The tribunal was not constituted when the firm plundered our water,” says Vilayodi Venugopal of the struggle committee.
