Ready to remove untreated effluent near Hapur plant: Coca Cola

New Delhi, Aug 31 (PTI) Beverages major Coca Cola hastold the National Green Tribunal that its Hapur plant in UttarPradesh was ready to "lift and transfer" untreated effluentbehind its unit, after a plea alleged that it was dischargingwaste in a nearby pond. "It is submitted on behalf of the Counsel appearing forHindustan Coca Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd that they will be filingan affidavit to bring before this tribunal the resolution ofthe entire controversy by entering into an agreement with theIrrigation Department Bulandshahr to bodily lift the untreatedeffluent and transfer to Hasanpur Nala for its ultimatedisposal," a bench headed by Justice U D Salvi noted. The NGT directed the soft drink company to file theaffidavit before September 13 and give advance copies to otherparties in the case. The submission came after the counsel for Uttar PradeshPollution Control Board (UPPCB) submitted a report on its re-inspection carried out on July 5. The green panel had ordered re-inspection by CentralPollution Control Board and UPPCB after going through thereport of a court commissioner which found "openings" and"leakages" at a few spots in the boundary wall of the plant. Earlier, the NGT had appointed an advocate ascommissioner to inspect the premises of the beverages majorafter a plea had alleged that the plant was releasinguntreated effluents into the pond situated on the back side ofthe factory area-UPSIIDC Wide Park Land. The green panel had directed Coca Cola to pay Rs 20,000as fees to the Court Commissioner and asked him to videographand take pictures of the work done and file his report. The counsel appearing for Coca Cola had refuted theclaims and asked the tribunal to appoint local commissioner toinspect the site in question and submit correct facts withregard to the boundary wall of the company. The tribunal had issued notice to the company last yearafter finding "alarming facts" in an inspection report ofCentral Pollution Control Board. It had also directed Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages PvtLtd to submit a drainage map of its plant in Hapur, givingdetails of sewage and trade effluents generated from thefactory. The NGT was hearing a plea by one Sanjay Kumar seekingrestraint on the alleged illegal discharge of untreated wastewater into the pond situated behind the Hindustan Coca ColaBeverages Pvt Ltd’s plant in Hapur. PTI PKSARC