Communication of newspaper reports about falling ground water levels (04/18/2006):
WATER TABLE GOING DOWN IN VARANASI CONTRARY TO COCA COLA CLAIMS
The farmers of Mehdiganj and nearby villages have been complaining of their water table going down and have been protesting since 2003 against the Coca Cola bottling plant in their village which draws large quantities of water per day from under the ground. The Coca Cola has claimed that water table has risen in the area since it set up its plant in 1999 in the area.
In a report published in Hindi newspaper 'Hindustan' on April 2nd, 2006, it has been revealed that several villages in the Mirza Murad area of Varanasi District like Benipur, Nagepur, Mehdiganj, Gaur, Khalispur, Takhupur, Mubarakpur, Kallipur, Thathaha, Khajuri, Rakhauna, Bhikharipur and Kachnar are experiencing fall in water table and hand pumps in these villages have started going dry.
Before this on January 23rd, 2006, another Hindi daily 'Amar Ujala' reported that in 6 out of 8 Blocks of Varanasi District the situation of ground water exploitation was semi critical. According to NABARD norms if the ground water exploitation is less than 70% (of the recharged water during last monsoon) it is considered safe, if the exploitation is between 70% and 90% and the water table drops once either before or after the monsoon it is considered semi critical and in the case of more than 90% exploitation with water table dropping the situation is critical. If the ground water is exploited more than 100% and water table is going down then it is case of 'over exploitation.'
The figures for the extent of ground water exploitation in eight Blocks of Varanasi is reported as follows:
Kashi Vidyapeeth – 83.58%
Cholapur – 78.88%
Haraua – 78.03%
Bada Gaon – 74.15%
Chirai Gaon – 71.11%
Araji Line – 72.84% (Mehdiganj falls in this Block)
Sewapuri – 69.66%
Pindra – 60%
In the Varanasi area the water table is going down 23 cms. on an average per year. The government prescribes that if the situation of ground water exploitation is semi critical then no new borewells should be installed and big borewells should be stopped. A farmer normally uses a 2.5-7.5 hp borewell, government borewells are of 10 hp whereas Coca Cola is using 25 hp borewells.
Obviously, the precarious situation of ground water in Varanasi requires that authorities should immediately clamp down on the Coca Cola borewells and protect the precious water for the farmers who need it more than Coca Cola to grow their food.
Note: Inputs provided by Nandlal Master and Sanjay Jaiswal from Varanasi and Mughalsarai, respectively.