Govt not blindly against Coca Cola, Pepsi: CM

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 19 (UNI) The Kerala government today denied taking negative approach towards soft drink giants Coca Cola and Pepsi and asserted there would not be any undue interference in their functioning just because they were multi-national companies (MNCs).

Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, however, said the government would take action against the companies if their functioning was against the interests of the state, in a written reply to Mr C P Muhammad of the Congress.

He said the government would not allow them to pollute the water sources in the nearby areas, above the permitted level. They had to follow the guidelines of the State Pollution Control Board.

The government had noted the diminishing water levels in the wells adjacent to the companies, he said.

Reiterating the government's commitment to ensure safe drinking water to people, he said it would not hesitate to stop their functioning if it meant depletion of water sources and over-exploitation.

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