Water needs to be met from SIPCOT: Coca Cola

Firm allays villagers' fears, says it has no plans to extract groundwater, assures it will dispose waste water safely

With mounting opposition to the proposed Coca Cola plant at Perundurai over fears that use of groundwater by it would deplete groundwater levels, the company has clarified that it would meet its needs from Small Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) in that town.

"HCCB (Hindustan Coca Cola Bevegares Pvt Ltd) has no plans to extract groundwater at any stage for any use in the operations at Perundurai and intends to take water from SIPCOT to meet the industrial water requirement," Kalyan Ranjan, Vice President, Public affairs and Communication, HCCB said.

He said treated waste water would be discharged outside the plant premises and excess water would be utilised for 'onland for Irrigation' within the premises.

Ranjan said in a press release that the state-of-the-art greenfield manufacturing unit at SIPCOT Industrial Growth Centre, Perundurai, at an investment of about Rs 500 crore, would manufacture beverages including juices and packaged Drinking Water, for which 71.3 acres has been allotted by SIPCOT.

He pointed out that the company had held a stakeholders meeting on December 11, last year in which all stakeholders had participated and had their doubts clarified.

A detailed response was also submitted by HCCBPL to the District Collector giving the factual position.

The company claimed that it has implemented several environmental practices over a period of time in water conservation, wastewater management and solid waste management across its plants, which would be replicated at Perundurai.

It has been constantly engaging with various stakeholders and was open to discuss all issues in an open and transparent manner and allay apprehensions that some stakeholders might have, he said.

Yesterday most shops and business establishments in Perundurai and nearby Chennaimalai had remained closed in response to a one day hartal call given by all opposition parties, barring AIADMK, against the plant.

Residents of these towns had protested against the plan to set up the unit in the area and had also written to the Centre, the Environment Ministry and state Chief Minister.

The villagers had contended that the groundwater level in the towns would be depleted if the factory was allowed to come up. Further a huge quantity of waste from the factory would be discharged in the drains, affecting water courses.