Villages demand ban on groundwater extraction by Coca-Cola bottler in Varanasi: Activist IRC

NEW DELHI: Several villages around Coca Cola’s bottling plant in Mehdiganj, Varanasi, have demanded that groundwater supply to the beverage maker be stopped in view of the growing water crisis in the area.
A statement issued by activist firm India Resource Centre (IRC) on behalf of 18 village councils said the villages, which are within a 5-km radius of the Coca Cola plant, have been facing water shortage since the company began operations in the area in 1999.

“Coca Cola uses the same common groundwater source to meet its production needs, placing its groundwater use in direct competition with the community in an area running short of water,” India Resource Centre said in the statement.

Hindustan Coca Cola, the bottling arm of Coca Cola, said in a statement, "Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages operates its plants in compliance with all regulatory norms. HCCB, not being a party in the matter before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), hasn’t been served with a copy of the stated report filed by the authorities before NGT. Thus, we are unable to make any comment.”

The statement from IRC claimed that in letters to the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, the heads of the village councils had noted that it was not acceptable that Coca Cola should continue to extract groundwater for profit while people in the area face water shortage. “The letters ask that the groundwater extraction by Coca Cola be stopped immediately,” it added.

New guidelines to regulate groundwater came into effect on November 16, 2015, and a significant addition was to bring existing industries under its purview.