For sake of argument, even if one ignores the case of pesticide in their drinks, there is nothing good in these drinks. They are otherwise also harmful for health. Hence these drinks should be banned in educational institutions and government departments / functions and heavy dose of taxation should be slapped on these drinks. Similarly smoking in the public should also be banned and taxation on cigaret, bidi, gutka, jarda should also be increased a lot.
no one this country can ban anything. we ban so many things in the college or schools, but the pupils somehow use that. even in our houses, if parents ban the kids from watching the TVs, they somehow see their favourite programs and discuss. likewise, in kerala there are many dutypaid shops having middle-east labeled Coke and Pesi cans. affluents will defnitely go for that and the vendors kitty will be swelling. the article has rightly mentioned about the loss of jobs, starting from the bottling plant, godowns, distributions, bottle manufacturer [both glass and pet], etc., people coming from neighbouring states - Tamilnadu, Karnataka - as tourists can bring in bulk and drink in the Gods Own Country. will the kerala govt consitute special patrol to check the incoming passenger's luggages or will it ban the movies of SHARUK KHAN who had openly announced if Coke/Pepsi is banned, he would fly to America to drink it.
It is true that the multinationals who follow very stringent QC standards in developed countries should be forced to follow similar standards in India and other developing countries also. However banning of these soft drinks altogether is like trying to hide a large pumpkin (the level of contamination in our drinking waters and also other edible commodities we produce)in a bowl of rice (Moreover coke and pepsi are not daily necessities and they are only consumed occationally). If the centre for environment is really concerned about the health of the people rather than publicity should very well bring out the contamination levels in water and other edible commodity, and make our government and MNC pesticide firms accountable for the level of contamination. However the multinational giants should also be forced to follow strict QC conditions
There have been numerous occasions in the past and in other countries where a ban on two companies have had no major effect on the country's ability to attract FDI.
The author has to be corrected that there were a lot of agitation against the inappropriate usage of water in Kerala.
If Coke and Pepsi can adhere to strict standards in the west, why not here, considering India is supposed to be a major market for them.
On the point of not getting the smaller fishes in the net, its evident they are just trying to deflect the issue. Even if we agree smaller companies are guilty of the same, why is the author running away from the truth that Pepsi and Coca Cola have violated the law and are not averse to putting the health of Indians under some danger.
These companies have a wide reach in terms of consumers and letting them off for the second time would be wrong.
What I wuld like is to see that both the colas quality is regulated as per Indian norms by removing or reducing all the pesticides in the ground water. Then serve the drinks. Even if it costs the company more. We should nothing to do with the US and EU norms. Why not for once we take the leadership role in proposing a better product.
While I agree with some points raised by Rajwade , I cannot but differ with him on the specific question of Coke and pepsi ban in Kerala. People in the village where coke had a factory had been protesting againts the MNC for a long time now. The fact that water tables are going down and a large chunk of water available was being used by Coco-Cola company was widely acknowledged even by experts. And it was the people - and not any political party-which led the fight against coke. It was not a one man show by the kerala's present CM. It was a highly sensitive issue which he toook adavantage of - as a then opposition leader. He lived up to his promise on becoming CM-and they are still celebrating this ba that village and other parts of Kerala. I thionk kerala govt did the right thing. No investment is worth the health of the nation
Quote: Incidentally, the chief minister of Kerala had earlier led an agitation against the Coke and Pepsi factories claiming that their use of water was lowering the water tables in the region leading to shortages, a claim thrown out by courts and denied even by the local panchayats. Unquote:
A claim thrown out by courts and even by local panchayats? What a glaring lie, this.
Secondly, the author tries to compare two issues (Appolo hospital in Srilanka and Coke/Pepsi in India) which are entirely different from each other in all sense.
Thirdly, too many people are getting away, like the author does, with the shallow notion that because ground water or Municipal water contains pesticides we should let Coke/Pepsi to do the same. I will accept this logic on the day when Coke/Pepsi sell their 'products' free or at 2 paise per litre (the cost at which we are supplied municipal water!).
forthly, the author should know that in US itself Coke/Pepsi are banned in many places (e.g. educational institutions). Recent news indicate Britain too is following suite.
Fifthly, the bogey of FDI flight etc. has been used too often, that it has become a joke.
