Beverages
giant Coca-Cola's plant at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh (UP) has been shut after
the UP pollution control board withdrew permission to operate over alleged
violation of environmental norms.
"In
an unprecedented move, UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) withdrew the consent
to operate to the Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages plant at Mehandiganj,
Varanasi," the company said in a statement.
The
single-line plant produces soft drinks only in glass bottles and belongs to
Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd, the bottling operations unit of
Coca-Cola. Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages has moved the National Green Tribunal,
challenging the order. The company said the tribunal has already had three
hearings related to the matter and will come up again before the tribunal on
June 20, 2014.
In
its June 6, 2014 order, the UPPCB stated that Coca-Cola did not obtain
clearance from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), a government agency
that monitors and regulates ground water use in water-stressed areas.
It
said the treatment system at the plant was not operated properly & that the
company produced more than the permitted capacity by raising production to
36,000 cases a day from 20,000 cases a day.
Coca-Cola,
however, asserted that the plant has been in operation for the past 15 years,
"complying with all regulatory approvals & applicable laws".
It
alleged that the UPPCB did allow it to present any facts or / explain its
position.
The
company said: "We use water very responsibly and judiciously. We recognise
that water is critical to our business as integral to community needs and
therefore we have a shared interest in the sustainability of water
resources."
Citing
a report by the Central Ground Water Board in 2012, Coca-Cola said the drying
up in the area around the facility "was not due to withdrawal of ground
water by Coca-Cola plant".
In
2005, the Kerala State Pollution Control Board had ordered closure of the
company's plant at Plachimada.
Src:
PTI
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