Coca Cola Plant in Uttarakhand: Time for lessons?
29 April 2013 7:01 AM IST
The entry of soft drink giant Coca-Cola Company in the hill state, for setting up Rs 600 crore plant project in the 60 acres land of Chharba village near Vikasnagar, has raised many eye-brows. It has got mixed reactions from ruling government, opposition, various organizations including environmentalists.
The Vijay Bahuguna-led ruling Congress party has given the green signal to Coca-Cola Company, which signed an agreement with the government-controlled state industrial and infrastructure development corporation of Uttarakhand Ltd (SIDU). Commenting on this agreement with members of the media, CM said that this project will boost the image of Utarakhand state by adding more revenue and more employment opportunities. The Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverage Beverage Pvt. Ltd is would start the unit within one and half years.
Raising her voice against this project, well known environmentalist Dr Vandana Shiva said that the agreement between the state government and the cold drink company will create more problems for the localities. She added that the state government should learn lessons from the excessive exploitation of water resources by Coca Cola Company in Mediganj (near Varanasi city). Unjust practices of the local plant unit reduced ground water levels to a dangerous zone. Besides this, the chemical waste generated by the unit, would destroy the top soil. The Sivaganga in Tamil Nadu, Thane district and Kala Dera near Jaipur have also met the same fate.
In Plachimada, many villagers complained of burning eyes and skin irritation, after the setting-up of a Coca Cola plant there. Rice and coconut crops were also badly affected due to depletion of groundwater resources. The quality and quantity of water was badly affected. Now, the question is will the villagers of Chharba village will meet the same fate? This is stored in the womb of future.
The Vijay Bahuguna-led ruling Congress party has given the green signal to Coca-Cola Company, which signed an agreement with the government-controlled state industrial and infrastructure development corporation of Uttarakhand Ltd (SIDU). Commenting on this agreement with members of the media, CM said that this project will boost the image of Utarakhand state by adding more revenue and more employment opportunities. The Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverage Beverage Pvt. Ltd is would start the unit within one and half years.
Raising her voice against this project, well known environmentalist Dr Vandana Shiva said that the agreement between the state government and the cold drink company will create more problems for the localities. She added that the state government should learn lessons from the excessive exploitation of water resources by Coca Cola Company in Mediganj (near Varanasi city). Unjust practices of the local plant unit reduced ground water levels to a dangerous zone. Besides this, the chemical waste generated by the unit, would destroy the top soil. The Sivaganga in Tamil Nadu, Thane district and Kala Dera near Jaipur have also met the same fate.
In Plachimada, many villagers complained of burning eyes and skin irritation, after the setting-up of a Coca Cola plant there. Rice and coconut crops were also badly affected due to depletion of groundwater resources. The quality and quantity of water was badly affected. Now, the question is will the villagers of Chharba village will meet the same fate? This is stored in the womb of future.
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