The state of Kerala in south India has passed a radical ‘polluters pay’ bill, which will allow communities to sue Coca-Cola for damages. The law paves the way for actions from communities such as Plachimada, where a bottling plant allegedly leaked a sludge containing toxic chemicals such as cadmium and lead, groundwater levels dropped and land lost productivity. The legislation represents a breakthrough victory for anti-pollution activists in India and their supporters in the West. ‘This should serve as a powerful reminder to corporations across India that there are severe repercussions for operating recklessly,’ says Amit Srivastava of the India Resource Center. Two other campaigns – in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh – are also seeking closure of local Coca-Cola bottling plants.
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