Dear Dr. Rajagopalan,
We, the undersigned, would like to bring to your attention, a recently
published article in Frontline [1] based on research conducted by the
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The report includes data about
chemical composition of the sludge from Hindustan Coca Cola Company
(HCCC) plant in Mehdiganj, Varanasi.
While HCCC had advertised such toxic sludge as manure to the farmers
in Mehdiganj [2], the sludge from this plant was found to contain
unacceptably high levels of cadmium, chromium and lead. The cadmium
content was found to be as high as 86mg/kg, which is in excess of the
CPCB benchmark of 50mg/kg. The sludge also contained 220-538mg/kg of
lead and 62-134mg/kg of chromium, which are far in excess of the
limits set by Municipal Solid Waste [Handling and Management] Rules of
2000 [3] for metal concentrations in manure at 100mg/kg for lead and
50mg/kg for chromium. Under Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling)
Amendment Rules of 2002i [4], the above sludge should be classified as
hazardous waste and disposed in a hazardous waste site. Accordingly,
CPCB has recommended that the sludge be stored in lined, concrete
landfills.
The HCCC sludge advertised as manure has ruined fertile farmland and
adversely affected the health of many people [5]. The HCCC does not have
any hazardous waste landfill, and discharges the harmful sludge into
the groundwater continuing to affect many lives.
Many residents of Mehdiganj and its neighboring villages, who have
been adversely affected by HCCC, have been protesting peacefully for
action against the Coca Cola plant since March 23, 2006. Since June
23, 2006, the protesters have been on a hunger-strike demanding action
against the HCCC plant. However, no action has been taken by you to
date. We find it unacceptable that the Coca Cola plant in Mehdiganj,
Varanasi is being allowed to function normally in light of such
compelling evidence about the dangerous nature of the sludge.
We demand you to shut down the Hindustan Coca Cola Company in
Mehdiganj, Varanasi until proper measures are taken by the plant to
handle its toxic sludge.
Sincerely,