Monday, November 29, 1999

Kerala not to take action against officer over Coke statement

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Thiruvananthapuram, June 16 (PTI) The Kerala government today expressed its "displeasure" over a senior bureaucrat''s statement in favour of a softdrink major in contradiction to the ruling coalition''s stand on the issue but decided not to take any disciplinary action against the civil servant. According to LDF sources, the state cabinet took the decision based on the report of Chief Secretary P Prabhakaran who concluded that the statement made by Principal Secretary (Industries) T Balakrishnan, was "inappropriate" as it varied with that of the government. However, the Cabinet decided not to take any disciplinary action against the civil servant other than conveying the government''s displeasure. While attending a business meet at Kozhikode last month Balakrishnan had said that it was unfortunate that the state could not avoid virtual closure of the plant of the Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages plant at Plachimada. The Plachimada plant had been the centre of a prolonged agitation by resistance groups alleging the plant depleted ground water and caused pollution. The bureacucrat''s statement embarrassed the LDF government as it came close on the heels of an experts'' commmittee headed by Additonal Chief Secretary K Jayakumar recommending steps to realise compensation to the tune of Rs 216 crore from the softdrink giant for losses it caused in the area. After the official''s statement sparked a row, the government entrusted the Chief Secretary to seek explanation from Balakrishnan and submit a report to the cabinet.

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