The Hindu : SC notice to cola firms for defacing rocks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 27, 2002

National

National

SC notice to cola firms for defacing rocks

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI Sept. 26. The Supreme Court today issued show cause notice to Coca Cola, Pepsi and six other companies as to why exemplary damages should not be imposed on them for defacing rock faces with advertisements on the Kullu-Manali -Rohtang highway even as they were asked to pay a total of Rs. 1 crore as cost for restoration of ecology.

A three-judge Bench comprising the Chief Justice, B.N. Kirpal, Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice Arijit Pasayat, directed the Malhotra Book Depot and Coca Cola to pay Rs. 30 lakhs each; Pepsi Rs. 15 lakhs; Grasim and Fena Rs. 10 lakhs each; Amaron Batteries Rs. 2.5 lakh and the State Bank of India and Sleepwell Rs. 1.25 lakh each and the Himachal Government, Rs. 1 crore.

The Bench granted 10 days to them to deposit the amount and file their response by October 11, and posted the matter for further hearing on October 22.

On Monday, the Bench said a corpus fund of Rs. 5 crores would be created for the purpose of restoring the environment spoiled by the defacement of eco-fragile rocks and asked the expert committee to specify the quantum of restoration cost to be imposed on each of the company depending on the extent of damage caused by it.

Today the Bench said initially Rs. 2 crores would be used for the restoration work and entrusted the job to the committee headed by the Environment Secretary, P.V. Jaikrishnan, and asked it to immediately find out the agency which could do the restoration job. All the companies were asked to deposit the amount with this committee.

Report sought

The Bench also asked the Ministry of Environment and Forests to inform as to who incited the villagers to ``invade'' the Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan with their cattle. The Bench expressed its displeasure on the inaction of the Ministry even as its counsel said it was looking into the incident but it had to depends on the State Government for action.

The Bench said when National Parks fell under the domain of the Central Government, why was it dependent on the State Government. ``You have powerful MLAs there and you will not do anything,'' it said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National