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{{Short description|Environmental protests in Kerala, India}}
{{use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}

The '''Plachimada Coca-Cola struggle''' is a series of protests that led to permanent closure the [[Coca-Cola]] factory in the village of Plachimada, [[Palakkad District]], [[Kerala]], [[India]] in the early 2000s. Villagers noted that soon after the factory opened, their [[Water well|well]]s started to run dry and the available [[water]] turned contaminated and toxic.<ref name="Raman" /><ref name="Bijoy" /> Soon, waste from the factory was passed off to farmers in the area as fertiliser. The controversy became "one of the most studied corporate controversies" in recent times.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Motwani |first=Ameeta |date=2023-03-07 |title=Corporate Social Accountability: Lessons from Coca-Cola’s Conflict at Plachimada |url=https://www.dpublication.com/journal/IJARME/article/view/997 |journal=International Journal of Applied Research in Management and Economics |language=en |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=47–58 |doi=10.33422/ijarme.v6i1.997 |issn=2538-8053|doi-access=free }}</ref>

== History of Plachimada Plant ==
The Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverage (HCCB) is an Indian bottling entity of The Coca-Cola.<ref name=":0" /> Its Plachimada plant was launched and became operational in 2000. The 34.64 acres of HCCB factory produced beverages [[Limca]], [[Fanta]], [[Thums Up]], [[Sprite (drink)|Sprite]], [[Kinley (brand)|Kinley]] and [[Maaza]] etc.

The factory was closed in 2004 following local agitations, though it briefly opened for a week in 2005. In July 2017, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages informed the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] that it does not intend to commence manufacturing operations at the plant located at Plachimada<ref name=":6" /> ([[Palakkad district]]) in [[Kerala]]. The Bench comprising Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul made a note of the statement and in its order dated 13 July 2017, stated, “We record the aforesaid statement and, therefore, dispose of these appeals as being become infructuous in terms of the signed order.”{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

The court was hearing seven civil appeals on the issue. The petitioners’ counsels decided not to oppose the issue.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

In June 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the factory was converted into a Covid First Line treatment center (CFLTC).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-24 |title=Coca Cola’s contentious bottling plant in Kerala becomes 600-bed Covid hospital |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/health/coca-colas-contentious-bottling-plant-in-kerala-becomes-600-bed-covid-hospital/2277626/ |access-date=2021-11-12 |website=The Financial Express |language=en-US}}</ref>

== History of Plachimada Struggle ==
[[File:പ്ലാച്ചിമട-സമരപ്പന്തൽ.jpg|thumb|250px|Protest camp]]
[[File:പ്ലാച്ചിമട-കൊക്കോകോള‌ഫാക്റ്ററി.jpg|thumb|250px|Plachimada Cococola factory]]On 22 April 2002, the villagers, mostly [[Adivasi]], began to protest in front of the factory by blocking its entrance. The impromptu protest continued and lasted for years, by gathering support from environmental groups, locals and national political parties and activists. Continued protests and litigation eventually helped the people of Plachimada to shut down the factory in March 2004.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kumar|first1=Anand|date=21 July 2016|title=Coca-Cola is in troubled waters (again) for a factory it was forced to shut down 12 years ago|work=[[Scroll.in]]|url=https://scroll.in/article/811352/why-coca-cola-is-in-troubled-waters-again-for-a-factory-it-was-forced-to-shut-down-12-years-ago|access-date=16 August 2018}}</ref>

While a government committee estimated the damages to be around {{INR}} 216 [[crore]] ([[US Dollars|$]]30 million), compensation has yet to be paid to the villagers.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Anthapuram|first1=Thiruvan|date=22 March 2010|title=Abstract of the High Power Committee on the extent of damages caused by the Coca-Cola Plant|journal=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/Abstract-of-Report-and-Recommendations-of-the-High-Power-Committee-on-the-extent-of-damages-caused-by-the-Coca-Cola-plant/article16583639.ece|access-date=August 16, 2018}}</ref>

On 8 October 1999, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private (HCBLP), a subsidiary of the Coca-Cola Company, applied for a license at [[Perumatty]] panchayat to establish a factory in Plachimada. On 27 January 2000 the company was granted permission to open the factory. The firm purchased a roughly {{convert|34.64|acre|adj=on}} plot, which had previously been used to cultivate [[Paddy (unmilled rice)|paddy]], [[peanut]]s and vegetables. The factory employed 130 permanent workers and approximately 250 temporary laborers. Brands produced at the Plachimada factory included [[Coca-Cola]], [[Limca]], [[Fanta]], [[Thums Up]], [[Sprite (drink)|Sprite]], [[Kinley (brand)|Kinley Soda]], and [[Maaza]]. The factory used 500,000 litres of [[groundwater]] a day for its production after obtaining permission from [[Perumatty]] panchayat, which was later confirmed by the [[Kerala High Court]].<ref>{{cite news |author=S. Anand |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/dont-poison-my-well/227376 |title=Don't Poison My Well |date=16 May 2005 |magazine=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |access-date=June 9, 2019}}</ref>

Villagers living nearby the factory started reporting increased water pollution six months after the factory was opened. Accessing water for agricultural purposes became an issue.<ref name="Bijoy" />

The factory had also made a practice of distributing its [[sludge]] waste from the manufacturing process as free fertilizer to the villagers. In 2003, a BBC journalist visited the village to investigate the claims made by the villagers that the sludge was contaminated. As part of his reporting for BBC Radio 4's ''[[Face the Facts]]'', he has picked up samples of the sludge and sent to the [[United Kingdom]] to be analyzed. A lab at the [[University of Exeter]] found unacceptably high levels of [[cadmium]] and [[lead]] in the sludge.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/07_july/24/face_facts.shtml|title=BBC - Press Office - Face the Facts investigates Coca-Cola plant|website=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=2019-07-28}}</ref> [[Lead]] is toxic to human development and the nervous system, while [[cadmium]] is a documented [[carcinogen]].

Mounting pressure on the [[Kerala Government]] to shut down the factory, [[Greenpeace]] Campaign Head [[Ameer Shahul]] shared the [[University of Exeter]] analysis report to the [[Kerala State Pollution Control Board]] and to the local media, and demanded permanent closure of the factory.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/greenpeace-demands-closure-of-coke-plant/article27788706.ece|title=Greenpeace demands closure of Coke plant|date=2003-08-05|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-07-28|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Soon, the [[Kerala State Pollution Control Board]] confirmed these test results and ordered [[The Coca-Cola Company]] to stop distribution of its waste and to recover what had been dispersed in the past.<ref name="Bijoy" />

== Protests ==
[[File:Protest_by_Plachimada_people.jpg|thumb|250px|Protest by Plachimada people]]
After mounting evidence that [[The Coca-Cola Company]] was polluting the environment and harming local citizens, the Coca-Cola Virudha Janakeeya Samara Samithy (Anti-Coca-Cola Peoples Struggle Committee) launched their protests on 22 April 2002 by blocking the entrance to the factory. Over 1,300 people participated in this protest,<ref name="Bijoy" /> mostly Adivasis and women.<ref name="Raman">{{cite journal |first1=K. Ravi |last1=Raman |title=Corporate Violence, Legal Nuances and Political Ecology: Cola War in Plachimada |journal=[[Economic and Political Weekly]] |volume=40 |number=25 |date=18 June 2005 |pages=2481–2486 |jstor = 4416772}}</ref> Scientific tests were conducted on the water by Sargram Metals Laboratories in March 2002 which deemed the water unfit for "human consumption, domestic use and for irrigation."<ref name="Bijoy" /> The independent report was backed up by the government primary health center which also reported that the water was not potable in May 2003. Coca-Cola eventually admitted that there was an issue with the water, unrelated to their activities, and offered to provide drinking water to the community via trucks and to start [[rainwater harvesting]] programs at the factory and in the community.<ref name="Bijoy" />

As the villagers maintained the protest outside the factory, support grew for the movement. In January 2004, a three-day International Water Conference at Plachimada was organized to bring together activists from around the world to discuss water issues. Two [[environmentalist]]s, Canadian [[Maude Barlow]] and Indian [[Vandana Shiva]], attended the conference and issued the Plachimada Declaration stating that "water is not a private property, not a commodity" but a common resource and a fundamental right.<ref>{{cite news |author=Staff writer |url=https://www.thehindu.com/2004/01/24/stories/2004012402321300.htm |title=Water not a private property says Plachimada Declaration |date=24 January 2004 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=16 August 2018}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

== Results ==
On 3 April 2003, the Perumatty panchayat revoked the license for the plant. Coca-Cola took the case to the [[Kerala High Court]], which at first sided with the firm, saying the panchayat's claims were unscientific and unfounded. The legal battle lasted years. At times, for example, between 8 and 15 August 2005, the plant operated, but eventually, the plant was closed permanently, after Coca-Cola declared it had no plans to restart bottling operations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Water wars: Plachimada vs Coca-Cola |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/water-wars-plachimada-vs-coca-cola/article19284658.ece |access-date=15 February 2023 |work=The Hindu |date=15 July 2017}}</ref> In 2018, the factory sat empty with a few security guards.<ref name=Bijoy>{{cite journal |last1=Bijoy |first1=C. R. |title=Kerala's Plachimada Struggle: A Narrative on Water and Governance Rights |journal=[[Economic and Political Weekly]] |date=14 October 2006 |volume=41 |issue=41 |pages=4332–4339 |jstor=4418807 }}</ref> In 2019, Coca-Cola submitted a proposal to turn the plant into a training center for local farmers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Konikkara |first1=Aathira |title=Amid compensation woes, Coca-Cola proposes reopening controversial Plachimada facility to farm fruits |url=https://caravanmagazine-in-nalsar.knimbus.com/communities/amid-compensation-woes-coca-cola-proposes-reopening-controversial-plachimada-facility-to-farm-fruits |access-date=21 March 2023 |work=The Caravan |date=21 November 2019}}</ref>

The case was said to turn upon the legal doctrines of [[public trust doctrine|public trust]] and the [[polluter pays principle]], as well as the legal role of local government.<ref name="Rahhunandan">{{cite web |url=https://thewire.in/law/coca-cola-plachimada-kerala-water |first1=Gayatri |last1=Raghunandan |title=A Look at the Legal Issues Plachimada's Struggle for Water Against Coca-Cola Has Brought Up |work=[[The Wire (Indian web publication)|The Wire India]] |quote=It is all the more important to look closely at the important issues that this case has thrown up, namely the importance of the [[public trust doctrine]], the role of local self governing bodies in decision making, and the relevance of the PPP. |date=20 August 2017 |access-date=16 August 2018}}</ref>

The wells are still contaminated and water must be piped in from a nearby village. A High Powered Committee has determined that the damage to the community amounts to {{INR}} 216.26 crores or ([[US Dollars|$]]28 million). This figure was broken down into categories of agriculture loss, health damage, cost of providing water, [[Pure economic loss|wage loss]] and [[opportunity cost]] and the [[cost of pollution]] of water resources. However, as of 2018, no compensation has been paid to the villagers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/a-lost-battle-plachimadas-victims-may-never-get-cokes-compensation/article8206306.ece |first1=K.P.M. |last1=Basheer |title=A lost battle: Plachimada victims may never get Coke's compensation |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=7 February 2016 |access-date=16 August 2018}}</ref>

== Present status ==
In 2017, the Supreme Court of India dismissed all appeals concerning the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Plachimada after Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages stated that it did not plan to resume operations there. Attempts to raise compensation issues in court have been unsuccessful, and Coca-Cola’s decision to halt operations prevented further legal consideration on this matter.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Konikkara |first=Aathira |date=2019-03-16 |title=Nearly 15 years after Coca Cola plant shut down, Plachimada’s fight for Rs 216 crore in compensation continues |url=https://caravanmagazine.in/communities/coca-cola-plachimada |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=[[The Caravan]] |language=en}}</ref>

The Kerala government took over 35 acres of land from Coca Cola in Perumatty, with permission from Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages. This move sparked protests from the Anti-Coca Cola Agitation Council at Plachimada in June 2024, who argue that the government’s action benefits Coca Cola by allowing them to avoid compensating local victims first. The council demanded that the government delay taking over the land until compensation is ensured for the damages allegedly caused by the company to the Plachimada community.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-06-22 |title=Protest against Kerala govt taking over Coca Cola factory land |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/protest-against-govt-taking-over-cola-factory-land/article68321237.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623022455/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/protest-against-govt-taking-over-cola-factory-land/article68321237.ece |archive-date=2024-06-23 |access-date=2024-11-05 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Mayilamma]]
* ''[[Oridathoru Puzhayundu]]'', a film based on these events.

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=



<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.coca-colaindia.com/about-us/will-not-restart-the-plachimada-plant--hindustan-coca-cola-tells|title = HCC to Supreme Court: Will Not Restart the Plachimada Plant}}</ref>
}}

[[Category:Coca-Cola]]
[[Category:Protests in India]]
[[Category:2000s in Kerala]]
[[Category:Environmental protests]]
[[Category:Social movements in India]]
[[Category:Palakkad district]]
[[Category:Anti-corporate activism]]

Plachimada Coca-Cola struggle - Revision history

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