Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 13: Janata Dal (S) leader and former Union minister M P Veerendra Kumar has come down heavily on the A K Antony government accusing it of "inaction" against the Coca-Cola plant at Plachimada despite lab tests allegedly showing solid waste thrown up by the plant containing toxic material. In an 'open letter' to Chief Minister A K Antony, Veerendra Kumar wanted the government to take steps for closure of the plant, seize the products and get compensation for the farmers in the area who suffered due to pollution caused by the plant.

The struggle against the plant was launched by the poor tribals in the area against depletion of ground water. The government had only sought to break the struggle, by treating the agitators as if they were extremists, he said in his letter carried by Mathrubhumi daily. When the Perumatti panchayat, where the plant is located, cancelled the unit's licence, the government did not only refuse to extend any support to the local body but acted as if it was bound to sabotage the panchayat's decisions, he said.

The JD (S) leader also took exception to statements from finance minister K Sanakaranayanan and local administration minister Cherkalam Abdulla attributing political motives to the struggle. Bureau Report