Kerala govt strikes again against Coke

The state pollution authority of the Kerala government has initiated the process of filing criminal charges against Coca-Cola for water pollution.

The Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) last week issued a notice to the soft drinks major's Indian arm, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, asking it why legal proceedings should not be initiated against it.

The board has levelled charges against Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages over releasing a large amount of cadmium in sludge, which was contaminating groundwater, making it unfit for human consumption.

G Rajmohan, chairman, KSPCB, said that the company had been given two weeks to respond. "We will initiate action against the company if it fails to respond within the stipulated time."

The spokesperson for Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages said the KSPCB action was "totally unwarranted and arbitrary".

He also said, "We are surprised at the notice by the KSPCB, especially when our plant in Plachimada has not been operational since March 9, 2004. Water is the main ingredient in our products. It is in the long-term interests of our business, our consumers and the communities where we operate to ensure the sustainability of water resources and reasonable and fair access to water for all users. Therefore, it would be unreasonable for anyone to expect the company itself to contaminate its main raw material."

The Coca-Cola plant in Plachimada had been mired in controversy ever since it began operations.

The plant had to be closed down in March 2004 following a temporary ban by the state government.

The protests from residents and anti-Cola activists accused the Cola bottling plant of depleting water and pollution of water as well as soil.

Coca-Cola's contention that the plant was a zero-discharge facility contradicts the state government's accusation.