Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Contributor Biographies
- Introduction
- I Water Law, Policy and Institutional Reforms in India
- II Ongoing Irrigation and Ground Water Reforms in India
- 5 Canal Irrigation, Water User Associations and Law in India – Emerging Trends in Rights-Based Perspective
- 6 Customary Rights and their Relevance in Modern Tank Management: Selected Cases in Tamil Nadu
- 7 Ground Water – Legal Aspects of the Plachimada Dispute
- III Perspectives on Privatisation
- IV Environment and Human Rights
- V Comparative Perspectives on Reforms
- Bibliography
7 - Ground Water – Legal Aspects of the Plachimada Dispute
from II - Ongoing Irrigation and Ground Water Reforms in India
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 October 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Contributor Biographies
- Introduction
- I Water Law, Policy and Institutional Reforms in India
- II Ongoing Irrigation and Ground Water Reforms in India
- 5 Canal Irrigation, Water User Associations and Law in India – Emerging Trends in Rights-Based Perspective
- 6 Customary Rights and their Relevance in Modern Tank Management: Selected Cases in Tamil Nadu
- 7 Ground Water – Legal Aspects of the Plachimada Dispute
- III Perspectives on Privatisation
- IV Environment and Human Rights
- V Comparative Perspectives on Reforms
- Bibliography
Summary
Introduction
Plachimada is a small village in the Palakkad district of the state of Kerala. ‘Plachimada’ has become synonymous with debate on legal regime of control and use of ground water after the Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited (hereafter the Company) started a plant in Plachimada. The plant was commissioned in March 2000 to produce its popular brands such as Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Limca, Kinley Soda, Maaza and Thumps Up.
The local people in Plachimada started their protest against the Company within two years after the Company started production. The local people complained that the quality and quantity of ground water in the area has deteriorated due to over-exploitation of ground water by the Company. While the public protest against the company was growing, the Perumatty Grama Panchayat (hereafter the Panchayat) refused to renew the license of the Company in 2003.
The refusal to renew the licence of the Company by the Panchayat was the beginning of the legal battle. The issue reached the Department of Local Self Government, Government of Kerala for ‘appropriate orders’ as per the direction of the Kerala High Court. However, the legal battle did not end at the level of the Department of Local Self Government. The issue of ground water depletion and the refusal of the Panchayat to renew the license of the Company came before the Single Judge and subsequently before the Division Bench of the Kerala High Court as appeal. The matter is now pending before the Supreme Court of India.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Water Governance in MotionTowards Socially and Environmentally Sustainable Water Laws, pp. 159 - 198Publisher: Foundation BooksPrint publication year: 2010
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