The Madras High Court on Thursday allowed cold drink makers Coca Cola and Pepsi to draw water from a river in Tamil Nadu for their bottling plants.
“The court gave permissions to Coca Cola and Pepsi to draw water from the Thamirabarani river for their bottling plants in Tirunelveli district,” reports stated, adding, “The move will help companies to make soft drinks and packing”.
The court had earlier imposed ban on the firms for drawing water from the river.
An application on lifting the ban was filed by the companies saying only surplus water was being used.
Meanwhile, upset over the order, a large number of people stood in knee-deep water in the river to show their anger.
“People also protested against the laxity on the part of the authorities in handling the case,” sources said.
“The protesters shouted slogans against the state government when the farmers in the state were facing acute water shortage for their farming activities,” they added.
(With inputs from agencies)