The Hindu : Government affidavit blames Coca-Cola for fall in water level

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 23, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Government affidavit blames Coca-Cola for fall in water level

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, MARCH 22 . The Department of Ground Water that monitored the groundwater levels in and around the Coca-Cola plant in Plachimada between March 2002 and March 2003 found that the fall in water level in several wells and the drying up of a few wells were due to excess drawing of groundwater by the company and due to less rainfall, according to an affidavit filed by the Government before the Kerala High Court.

The affidavit was filed in response to a writ petition filed by the company challenging the Government order prohibiting it from drawing water from its wells till the onset of southwest monsoon.

The Government affidavit said that the report of the Ground Water department had stressed the need for controlling the use of groundwater and implementing artificial recharge measures in the area. In fact, the department had monitored groundwater levels and quality of water in 18 wells. Of these, 16 were open wells and two borewells.

The report said that three open wells within the radius of 500 metres from the Coca-Cola plant had become dry in July 2003.

The rise in water level in certain wells was due to the recharging of water due to percolation from ponds and effluent water discharge from the petitioner's factory to a smaller extent. The rise was to a major extent due to the release of irrigation water in the nearby Kambalathara Reservoir from the Moolathara dam and the subsequent flow of water through the canals.

The department was also monitoring the water level trends of several wells in Chittur taluk from 1998 onwards under the Hydrology Project. All other wells except two in Nattukal and Koduvayoor were showing a declining trend.

The water level in some of the wells had gone down drastically, the affidavit said.

The Government submitted that the contention that the petitioner's company had only been proceeded against and other companies in the district had been spared was totally irrelevant.

Though there was no authoritative data, it might be true that some of the companies like United Breweries, Kerala Distilleries, Kerala Alcoholic Products Ltd., etc., were drawing ground water more than what the petitioner company drew, it said.

However, in the case of Chittur taluk, where the petitioner's factory was located, water scarcity was more acute than in other areas.

Besides, the areas where other industries were located were not agricultural areas. Chittur Taluk was the worst drought-hit taluk in Palakkad district and it suffered from acute drinking water shortage, the affidavit said.

The affidavit added that the Government had issued the order as a drought- relief measure as most open wells in the Chittoor taluk had gone dry.

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