Chances of reintroducing Plachimada Coca-Cola Victims’ Relief and Compensation Tribunal Bill, 2011, in the State Assembly have brightened with Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunilkumar visiting the victims of groundwater exploitation and pollution caused by aerated drinks major Coca-Cola at Plachimada village here on Monday.
Representatives of the victims and the Plachimada agitation solidarity committee have given separate memorandums to the Minister seeking the reintroduction of the Bill returned by Union Home Ministry without forwarding it to the President for his assent. Law Minister A.K. Balan has already promised that his department would probe the possibility of reintroducing the Bill to ensure justice to the tribespeople and Dalits of Plachimada. The Union Home Ministry had returned the Bill this year after sitting on it ever since it was passed in 2011.
Plachimada victims’ leader K. Shakthivel reminded the Minister that the Bill was passed unanimously by the State Assembly.
The Minister recalled his long association with the Plachimada struggle committee and promised to ensure justice to the affected villagers. “The previous UDF government had done nothing to save the village from the issues created by Coca-Cola. The Centre had also acted unconstitutionally in the case. We strongly believe that the cola giant had influenced the Union government for not implementing its provisions,” said struggle committee leader Arumughan Pathichira. He told the Minister that the Bill needed no President’s assent and it could be reintroduced using powers vested with State government.
The Bill, the outcome of a protracted people’s struggle, saw the Coca-Cola unit being closed down in 2005.
