The Madras High Court on Wednesday said there will be no ban on the supply of Thamirabarani river water to Pepsi and Coca-Cola plants in Tamil Nadu. This comes four months after the court imposed a stay on these two firms from using Thamirabarani river water following mass protests. In November last year, the court had granted an interim injunction, barring Coca-Cola and Pepsi from taking water from Thamirabarani river.

The court was hearing two public interest litigations, demanding to stop the water supply to these two companies in Tirunelvelli. The petitioner had argued that the farmers suffer because Pepsi and Coca-Cola use the water for commercial gains. According to the petitioner, the Tamil Nadu government had granted the companies to use nine lakh litres of water every day but later doubled it. Besides, the companies are charged only Rs 37.50 for every thousand litres, Tirunelveli District Consumer Protection Association secretary DA Prabakar had told the court, according to NDTV.

The companies, however, said that they use only the surplus water. Besides, the multinational firms argued that they were being targeted whereas many companies drew water from the river, reported The Times of India.

The court order comes amid protest against these two brands. Since Wednesday, many retailers across Tamil Nadu have stopped selling Coca-cola and Pepsi in order to boost the sale of local brands. They, however, have cited health reasons for stopping the sale.