The French paper Le Monde reports that the OECD’s French affairs office is to have a hearing on 22 November on a case pitting five NGOs against the tyre maker Michelin over its alleged violation of the rights of Dalits (“Untouchables”) in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Michelin acquired the land for a tyre plant, its largest in India, from the Tamil Nadu government and commenced construction in 2010. The plant is almost ready to begin volume production.
A joint complaint against Michelin from the Tamil Nadu Land Rights Federation, Thervoy Grama Makkal Munnerta Nala Sanga, CCFD-Terre Solidaire, Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT), and the Association Sherpa, was lodged in July this year. These organisations allege that the plant’s construction has led to the destruction of 450ha of forest and adversely affected local inhabitants’ water resources.
A spokesperson for Michelin, which has invested around €600m in the plant, has refuted the groups’ allegations. The OECD’s panel may issue recommendations following the examination of an issue where parties to a dispute are not agreed.
