Retailers in Kerala are moving closer to an end to the sale of Pepsi, Coca-Cola and brands of the two cola majors, a federation of traders in the state said on Wednesday.

T Naseeruddin, president of the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi, said in Kozhikode that the move was in line with opposition against exploitation of water resources by the companies and taken considering the drought situation in the state.

A decision on the issue will be formalised on March 14, following a meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

About seven lakh traders in the state are expected to stop the sale of cola brands in the wake of the decision. The federation has been batting for promotion of indigenous beverages and tender coconut water as alternatives to the aerated drink brands.

Naseeruddin said with the move, the traders were also expressing solidarity with retailers in Tamil Nadu who have already boycotted the cola brands.

The CPM-led state government, meanwhile, is mulling more stringent restrictions on groundwater use by PepsiCo at its plant in Palakkad district.