Coke discounts resumption of Kerala plant

Thiruvananthapuram: Coca-Cola on Wednesday discounted the possibilities of immediate resumption of operations of its plant at Plachimada in Kerala but rejected the charge that it depleted groundwater in the area based on which the anti-cola campaigners are still on the warpath.

Since the plant had to get its licence renewed every three months by the local panchayat, it would be impossible for a commercial enterprise to operate on the basis of short-term licence, a statement issued by Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Ltd said.

It, however, said even though the company was non-operational, it continued to process all valid licences and permissions to operate the plant.

Rejecting the charge of anti-Coke campaigners, it said the Plachimada plant had not been operational for the last three years and as such no water was being extracted from the area.

Against this backdrop, it was surprising that a group of people had been trying to create the impression that the company was exploiting groundwater and using it excessively.