| Published on 09-10-2006 In National |
| Viewed 1110 times |
| Kerala's war on Cola sends wrong signals |
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Written by
Kumar Chellappan |
It is rather strange that Kerala is always in the news for wrong reasons. Incidents of sex rackets, corruption, cheating, violent agitations, bundhs, hartals, extortion and road accidents make daily news in the state known all over as God's Own Country. It is an open secret that investors and industrialists shy away from the State taken aback by the intensity of agitations and that too for no reasons. Social activists justify the strikes and agitations by claiming that they are the natural outcome of an educated and enlightened society. The Kerala High Court had on Friday quashed the state government's ban on the manufacture and sale of Coca-Cola and Pepsi. The government contended in the court that the ban was a follow up to the report by the New Delhi based Centre for Science and Environment which claimed that the level of pesticide residues found in the cola samples would be injurious to health.
Both Coca Cola and Pepsi were the in eye of a storm after the CSE claimed that their drinks contained pesticide residues and toxic materials in excess of the prescribed levels. The Coca Cola plant at Plachimada in Palakkadu district was under siege by the local people who alleged that the factory was exploiting the ground water in the village and surrounding areas which had led to acute water shortage.
The court pointed out procedural and legislative discrepancies in the ban order. Following the High Court order, the Coca-Cola management issued a press release which said the judgment vindicated the company's claim that there was nothing detrimental in the colas.
On Saturday, activists of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of the CPI(M) ransacked the godowns of Coca Cola and Pepsi in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode respectively. They destroyed several cartons of the Pepsi and Coke stored in these godowns. The Marxist youths were protesting against the High Court order which quashed the government move.
A Pradeep Kumar. Secretary, DYFI, justified the action of his cadre and he claimed that they were enforcing the people's verdict on colas. "The Kerala Government's decision to ban the manufacture and sale of colas in the state was a reflection of the desire of the general public," Pradeep Kumar told mediapersons at Kozhikode on Saturday. He termed the High Court judgment anti-people. "We will not allow the cola companies to market their products in the state," declared Pradeep Kumar.
V S Achuthanandan, the Marxist Chief Minister of Kerala, justified their action by terming it as an expression of the feelings of the people.
But this has only sent wrong signals to potential investors who were planning to set up business in the state.
"This is highly objectionable," said Dr Rajmohan Pillai, Chairman, Beta Group of Industries, a leading global player from the state. "If the DYFI has any objection against the colas, they should challenge the High Court order instead of taking law into their hands. The government of Kerala too should file an appeal in the Supreme Court instead of justifying this vandalism," said Dr Pillai referring to the incidents of Saturday.
The business community in the state too is upset by the actions of the Marxist youths. "Absolutely wrong. That's all I could say about the Saturday incidents," said Mr Navaz Meeran, President, Comfederation of Indian Industries (Kerala chapter). Speaking to this reporter, Meeran said that such incidents will only send wrong signals to the investors. ”The DYFI action will give a wrong perspective of the state to the outside world," Meeran said.
Both Dr Pillai and Mr Meeran were of the view that as a facilitator, the role of the government is to ensure the partnership of global investors for the growth of Kerala. "Companies like Coca Cola are well known for their good business practices. If the Kerala Government feels there are discrepancies and irregularities in their operations in the state, call them for a meeting and talk it out," said Dr Pillai.
The High Court was only standing by the legislation enacted by the Indian Parliament which prescribes that the ban on manufacture and sale of any food products comes under the purview of the federal government in New Delhi. "The state government should have approached the union government for guidance and help," Dr Pillai said.
Many experts pointed out that there were many ambiguities in the charges leveled against the colas. "If the colas are dangerous for health, create an awareness among the consumers. But what about smoking and consumption of liquor and pan masala,?" asks Dr Pillai. "We are yet to come across any reports about deaths due to cola consumption from Kerala. But there are hundreds of people dying in various parts of the state due to tobacco related diseases," Dr Pillai pointed out.
Chances are that the war on colas may boomerang on an already investment starved state like Kerala. Unless the Marxist government controls the damage and sends positive signals to the industry.
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