HC Lifts Ban on Water Supply to Coke, Pepsi

The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court today lifted the ban on supplying water to Coke and Pepsi from Thamirabarani river.

The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed two PILs against supply of Thamirabarani water to co-packers of Pepsi and Coca Cola.

The court had in November last year granted an interim injunction, restraining multinational beverage companies Coca-Cola and Pepsi from taking water from Thamirabarani river.

The Tirunelveli District Consumer Protection Association secretary DA Prabakar had filed a petition demanding a ban on supply of water from Thamirabarani river to the companies.

The petitioner had stated that there were about 20 integrated drinking water projects in Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar districts which depend on the Thamirabarani river.

The government submitted counter affidavits by the public works department and the Tirunelveli collector asserting there was sufficient water in the river and only the surplus of water is channeled to companies.

However, the shopkeepers in Tamil Nadu are continuing their boycott of coke and pepsi which they commenced since yesterday.