The Plachimada tribunal bill meant to secure compensation for the residents of Plachimada village in Kerala's Palakkad district has received another setback. The bill, passed by the Kerala legislature, had been sent to the Centre for consideration. But the Union home ministry, which was coordinating with other Central ministries—law, environment and forests, agriculture—for feedback on the bill, returned the bill to the state. This was after it received a legal opinion from the counsels of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd, saying the bill is not valid.
The Plachimada Coca-Cola Victims’ Relief and Compensation Claims Special Tribunal Bill, 2011 was to adjudicate disputes relating to compensation of Rs 216.25 crore to be paid by the company for the damage its cola bottling plant caused in the village. The bill was passed unanimously, on February 24, by the state just before the Kerala Assembly was dissolved for elections.
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