India, Tamil Nadu: Coca-Cola bottling plant threatens the Right to Water and Livelihood of thousands of farmers in Sivagangai district

Hindusthan Coca Cola Beverages Private Ltd. (HCBL), which is the Indian branch of the multinational corporation Coca-Cola, has set up a bottling plant for soft drinks and bottled water within the premises of Shakti Sugar mills in Sivagangai district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Water resources in this area are already under pressure due to low rainfall and water intensive crop growing. Shakti Sugar has permission to withdraw 1 million liters of water per day and two pumping stations set up by Shakti sugar mills are depleting the groundwater reserves and adversely affecting the drinking water schemes.  

An urgent intervention is necessary to support the emerging resistance against the Coca Cola and Shakti Sugar mill combine. If the combine begins work at the bottling plant it will make the water problem more acute and violate the people’s right to water and livelihood. Please write polite letters to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu with copies to the District Collector of Sivagangai requesting them to refrain from giving permission to Coca Cola to begin their bottling operation on the premises of Shakti Sugar mill and respect and protect the people’s human right to water and right to feed themselves.