Bangalore: Karnataka government on August 7 refused to ban sale of Coca Cola, Pepsi soft drinks and bottled water, but however agreed to conduct an enquiry to ascertain quality of these products by subjecting them to vigorous laboratory tests.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare Kagodu Thimmappa, making a statement in the Legislative Council, said the government was in the process of collecting details and samples.

When M R Tanga of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded the government to declare an immediate ban on the sale of these beverages to safeguard health of people, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs D B Chandregowda rejected it, saying such an action cannot be resorted to in the absence of any report.

"So far only some NGOs (non-governmental organisations) have released reports saying these soft drinks have high pesticide content. We have not received anything so far," he said.

PTI