Product details

Coca-Cola India Pvt Ltd is the Indian subsidiary of Coca-Cola, a US Company based in Atlanta. Water is the primary component used by the company for manufacturing its products. There have been agitations against Coca-Cola subjected to severe water shortages for the community. They were accused of using large quantities of water for production which was affecting the quantity and quality of surface and underground water in Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra among other states. Many national, international groups and political parties along with extensive media coverage supported this cause. The Central Pollution Control Board of India reported that sludge from these factories had alarming levels of heavy metals like cadmium, lead, and chromium. In response, Coca-Cola said that 'a small number of politically motivated groups' were going after the company 'for the furtherance of their own anti-multinational agenda'. It refuted all the allegations that its actions in India caused or effected to depletion of local aquifers, and claimed these allegations were invalid 'without any scientific basis'. The case highlights the second dimension of this issue based on employment generation. Currently, Coca-Cola employs more than one lakh people in its bottling subsidiary called Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverage (HCCB). Should Coca-Cola be allowed to further expand their operations?