Thiruvananthapuram, Wednesday, 26 May 2010: Cabinet would discuss the statement made by Industries Principle Secretary T.Balakrishnan in favor of Coca Cola today. It is reported that Chief Minister himself may raise the issue in the cabinet.

It is observed that the Principle Secretary comment would be treated a serious issue at a time when the government was considering the K. Jayakumar Committee recommendations relating to payment of compensation for the ecological and economic damage caused by the Coca-Cola unit in the area. Hence claim for removing T. Balakrishanan, who served for five years as Principle Secretary, is likely to be raised in today’s meeting.

Chief Minister V.S achuthanandan had earlier on yesterday stated that the Principle Secretary’s opinions were against the policies of the government.

Earlier report
T. Balakrishnan, Principal Secretary (Industries & Commerce), stated here on Monday that they could have averted the closure of Coco-Cola factory at Plachimada. Adding to his note, he added that it had been contributing nearly Rs.500 crore annually to exchequer and livelihood to hundreds.He was speaking on ‘Development – a comprehensive perspective,’ at a programme organised by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) here .

Industrial Minister Elamaram Karim had said in the seminar that controversies of different kinds involving development projects had led to loss of about three lakh employment opportunities in recent times. Principal Secretary’s statement came after this observation of the Minister.