CII expresses concern over Cola blockade plans

New Delhi, Aug 23 (UNI) The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) expressed concern today over plans by an anti-Cola group to block the movement of vehicles carrying Coca-Cola and Pepsi bottles.

Such a blockade would thwart the process started by the Government to verify the findings of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and upstage it, CII president R Seshasayee said.

This was ''absolutely not desirable and will have an enormously negative impact on the investment environment in the country and slow down economic growth'', he said in a statement.

He appealed to the environmental groups concerned not to precipitate such actions and deal with the matter within the framework of the rule of law.

A pressure group comprising member of parliament M P Veerendra Kumar, advocate Prashant Bhushan, scientist Dunu Roy, public health expert Mira Shiva, Gandhian Banwarilal Sharma and environmentalist Vandana Shiva had earlier in the day said they would launch an all-India anti-Coke agitation from November 21-25 when they would block the movement of trucks carrying Coca-Cola and Pepsi bottles.

UNI VN AK MIR RN2139