Hapur plant stopped discharging waste in pond: Coca Cola

Beverages major Coca Cola has told the National Green Tribunal that its Hapur plant in Uttar Pradesh has stopped discharge of waste in a nearby pond and has made provision of releasing the effluents directly into a drain.
A bench headed by Justice Jawad Rahim reserved it judgement in the matter after it was informed by the counsel for the soft drink company that they have constructed a dedicated drain from the plant which goes to Hasanpur Nala and the effluents are directly released into it after treatment.
The bench was hearing a plea by one Sanjay Kumar seeking restraint on the alleged illegal discharge of untreated waste water into the pond situated behind the Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd's plant in Hapur.

The bench gave a last opportunity to the applicant to make final submissions on February 27, after which it will pass the judgement.
The submissions were also supported by the counsel for
Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB).

The green panel also sought to know where the Hasanpur Nala terminates as it carries industrial effluents.
The company had earlier told the green panel that it was ready to "lift and transfer" untreated effluent behind its unit.
The green panel had ordered re-inspection by Central Pollution Control Board and UPPCB after going through the report of a court commissioner which found "openings" and "leakages" at a few spots in the boundary wall of the plant.

Earlier, the NGT had appointed an advocate as commissioner to inspect the premises of the beverages major after a plea had alleged that the plant was releasing untreated effluents into the pond situated on the back side of the factory area-UPSIIDC Wide Park Land.
The green panel had directed Coca Cola to pay Rs 20,000 as fees to the Court Commissioner and asked him to videograph and take pictures of the work done and file his report.
The counsel appearing for Coca Cola had refuted the claims and asked the tribunal to appoint local commissioner to inspect the site in question and submit correct facts with regard to the boundary wall of the company.

The tribunal had issued notice to the company in 2015 after finding "alarming facts" in an inspection report of Central Pollution Control Board.
It had also directed Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd to submit a drainage map of its plant in Hapur, giving details of sewage and trade effluents generated from the factory.