Protests take fizz out of Pepsi plant

Around 100 men and women representing various social and political outfits participated in the protest inside the Collectorate premises. They raised slogans against providing Thamirabarani river water to the multinational beverage company.

They also demanded the immediate cancellation of the license given to the ‘South India Bottling Company (SIBC)’, a Coca Cola franchisee that exists at the Gangaikondan ‘Sipcot complex’ since 2006. According to the protestors, the SIBC has already been given permission

to draw 10 lakh litres per day from the Thamirabarani river despite strong protests from farmers of the southern districts. Added to this, now the state administration has given its nod for the Pepsi plant to draw 15 lakh litres of water every day from the Thamirabarani river for the purpose of soft drinks and mineral water manufacturing.

The protestors also submitted a petition to the district collector Mr Karunakaran and warned of staging a much bigger protest on December 1. According to the information obtained by an environmental activist S P Muthuraman through RTI, the ‘Pepsi plant’ has approval to buy 15 lakh litres per day at a cost of Rs 56.25 for 1000 litres. The existing Coca Cola franchisee company in the ‘Sipcot complex’, however, is drawing water for a much lower price of Rs 37 per 1000 litres.