Dear Sri Mulayam Singh Yadav,

We, the undersigned, would like to bring to your attention, a peaceful protest by the residents of Mehdiganj and its neighboring villages. The villagers of Mehdiganj are on an indefinite hunger strike to demand the closure of the Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd. (HCCBPL) bottling plant in Mehdiganj. The community has accused the Coca-Cola bottling plant of creating severe water shortages affecting over twenty villages, polluting agricultural land and groundwater, illegally occupying common village land, evading taxes and treating workers unfairly.

The community of Mehdiganj estimates HCCBPL draws 25 lakh liters of ground water per day in its plant, while the company itself admits to a much conservative estimate of 5 lakh liters of water per day. Even at conservative estimates, 5 lakh liters of water per day is equivalent to 24 times the water needed by a farmer with equivalent amount of land as HCCBPL (7 acres). The same is also equivalent to domestic water needs of 1250 families.

This rather large use of ground water has dried up open wells and has resulted in ground water level dropping from 30 feet to 50 feet in this region [1]. Owing to three successive years of failed monsoons, more than 20 villages were already experiencing acute water shortage in this area. HCCBPL's continued extraction of water over the this period has further exacerbated the water crisis for communities living around its bottling plant. Even as the State Water Board is considering closure of Government tube wells and bringing in tankers for drinking water supply, the bore wells at the HCCBPL plant continue to draw water everyday. No action has been taken by you to date.

While HCCBPL had advertised its 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, lead 220-538mg/kg and chromium 62-134mg/kg, 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. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has recommended that the sludge be stored in lined, concrete landfills, and has instructed the Uttar Pradesh State Pollution Control Board to take further action.

The HCCBPL sludge advertised as manure has ruined fertile farmland and adversely affected the health of many people [4]. The HCCBPL does not have any hazardous waste landfill, and discharges the harmful sludge into the ground, continuing to affect many lives. The SPCB has not responded since 2003. No action has been taken by you to date.

HCCBPL has illegally taken possession of village land in Mehdiganj by building a wall around it. This was in violation of Act 122(b) which states that it is illegal to occupy common village land for private use. The panchayat land was not returned by HCCBPL as per the agreement between HCCBPL and the Panchayat. The SDM (Sub District Magistrate) ordered breaking the boundary wall and returning the common village land in 2003. The government is yet to implement this order. No action has been taken by you to date.

A union was formed by the Coca-Cola workers in Mehdiganj in 2000, when workers realized that Coca-Cola was paying the labor contractor Rs 110 a day for their work and they were getting only Rs 72 a day. HCCBPL dismissed key leaders of the union and some workers who had participated in a protest. The company also rolled back many gains realized by the union. HCCBPL's treatment of its contract workers violates the Indian Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 [5]. HCCBPL is also guilty of not abiding by the Contract Labor (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 [6]. No action has been taken by you to date.

The hunger strike comes exactly 3 months after the community initiated an indefinite vigil in front of the HCCBPL plant. The community has been frustrated by inaction on part of the government, and have embarked upon an indefinite hunger strike to emphasize the severity of the situation facing the community.

We find it unacceptable that the Coca Cola plant in Mehdiganj, Varanasi is being allowed to function normally in light of such compelling evidence in each of the above issues. We demand you take immediate action and fulfill the following:
1. Cancel the license of Coca Cola company
2. Prohibit Coca Cola company from its daily exploitation of 25 lac liters of ground water
3. Release the public land illegally occupied by the company from the village panchayat of Mehandiganj
4. Stop the pollution caused by the wastes of Coca Cola, and compensate the people of Mehandiganj for the losses of life and crops
5. Take back all the fake cases into which Coca Cola has dragged our peaceful protesters, and its employees

Sincerely,