Bahuguna criticises those opposing proposed bottling plant

Criticising environmentalists and others opposing proposed bottling plant to be set up by beverage giant Coca Cola in Dehradun district, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna today said those opposed to it are anti-development.
"As far the Coca Cola company is concerned, it is a well-known corporation and has installed its plants world-wide and fulfilled the standards to tackle under ground water pollution for which the questions are being raised," Bahuguna told reporters here.
Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Coca Cola India Pvt Ltd, last week signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government to set up the Rs 600 crore plant expected to boost industrial growth in the state.

Noted environmentalists Avdhash Kaushal, Anil Prakash Joshi, Vandana Siva and Chandiprasad Bhatt, along with villagers, have vehemently opposed the proposed plant to come up in Charba village, claiming the project would adversely impact the hill state's fragile ecology.
Addressing a gathering, the Congress leader said urban local bodies could not flourish during the BJP's rule as the party did not release sufficient funds for them.
"The total budget for urban local bodies during BJP rule was Rs 124 crore, which was increased by Congress government to Rs 148 crore after coming to power," Bahuguna, who was here to campaign for Congress candidates contesting for local bodies, said.

Earlier, addressing a gathering in Bageswar district, the chief minister said the state needed 400 MW of additional electricity to be self-sufficient in power.
Bahuguna said his government would not take a step back on eco-sensitive zone issue, but developmental needs of backward areas would be taken into consideration.