The supreme court of India stayed the National Green Tribunal order of 15 Lakhs on Moon Beverages Limited (MBL), a unit of Coca Cola which was found guilty of exploiting the groundwater in its plants in Uttar Pradesh.
The respondent had filed a complaint stating that Moon beverages private limited had not obtained a no-objection certificate from the Central Ground Water Authority to extract groundwater. It was further mentioned that MBL’s plants were located in an “over-exploited” notified area. Where abstraction of groundwater is not permitted. Therefore it was contended that the extraction of underground water here was illegal, and the company was liable to pay compensation in accordance with guidelines issued by the concerned authorities.