The Kerala government has been offered the return of 35 acres of land in the Palakkad district by the multinational beverage company, Coca Cola Company, which currently possesses the land at Plachimada.
According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Juan Pablo Rodriguez Trovato, the CEO of Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Private Limited, wrote a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, conveying the company’s intention to surrender the property and building located on the land to the state.
Negotiations have already been initiated by the ruling Left front for the release of land, intended for the establishment of a farmer producer organization (FPO) to be led by farmers, which is expected to launch soon.
According to the beverage manufacturer, they were prepared to transfer the land at the beginning of negotiations, which were conducted under the guidance of Power Minister K Krishnankutty.
In a press release issued late Thursday, the CMO stated that the company had also proposed to extend technical support for the establishment of a demonstration farm for the local farmers.
As a result of protests from the local community regarding environmental pollution and the company’s exploitation of groundwater, Coca-Cola shut down its Plachimada facility in March 2004.
