Coke Draining Water Supply, Says Indian Court
Published: Tuesday, December 30, 2003
A judge in the Indian state of Kerala has ordered Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) to stop using local groundwater at its Plachimada village plant. Coke has until mid-January to find a new source of water. The order was issued after the Coca-Cola plant was found to be depleting scarce water supplies, according to a Dec. 17 Associated Press (AP) article. Local officials alleged that Coca-Cola was drawing nearly half a million gallons of water each day via dozens of wells.
"The plant has caused a severe drain on the water resources of the entire area, but the order is a great victory for the village," states village council attorney M. Ramkumar via the AP. Coca-Cola had testified that it was not depleting groundwater. A Coca-Cola spokesman says the company will review the order and "take appropriate decisions," according to AP.