Madhya Pradesh
,
Muhasa
,
Hoshangabad
Published :
May 2017
|
Updated :
Muhasa Residents Oppose Coca-Cola Plant in MP's Hoshangabad Fearing Pollution of Narmada
Reported by
Arpit Deshmukh
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
Households affected
People affected
2016
Year started
110
ha.
Land area affected
Households affected
People Affected
2016
Year started
110
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Industry
Reason/Cause of conflict
Beverages
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
Sector
Industry
Reason/Cause of conflict
Beverages
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
1
Summary

In 2016, the state government had allotted 110 acres of land to the Coca Cola Company at Muhasa Industrial Estate, eight kilometres away from the Narmada river. The government claims that the estate was developed on government land. The Coca Cola company was the first to build its plant in the industrial estate in December 2016. The plant would be the biggest in India. To facilitate this, the government set up a water treatment plant that can treat five million gallons of water per day for uninterrupted water supply to the company. When fully operational, the soft drink unit would require about one million litres of water daily. The residents of Muhasa village, which is close to the industrial estate, and members of Vichar Madhya Pradesh, have opposed the project. They fear that besides polluting the river, the company will extensively exploit the waters of the Narmada, leaving little for the public to use for irrigation and household purposes. They staged a demonstration in front of the office of the district collector in March 2017 and took to the streets to march against the plant. Reportedly, the local administration tried to persuade the people by explaining to them about the zerodischarge impact of the project. With the controversies surrounding the project, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan in 2017 refused to attend the _bhumi poojan _(land worship ceremony) of the plant. In 2017, a group of local activists decided to file a petition in the Jabalpur High Court. In a similar case in Plachimada, Kerala, where the company's activities lead to water shortage and environmental problems, the Kerala government recommended the company be held liable for US$48 million in damages in 2010. Fearing the same fate, CocaCola had stalled the project in Hoshangabad till 2019. According to a news report, construction of the plant began in June 2020.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

Opposition against environmental degradation

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Common

Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

750

Type of investment:

Investment Made

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

M.P. Government

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

Vichar, Madhya Pradesh

5
Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Author
Reported by
Arpit Deshmukh
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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

Opposition against environmental degradation

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

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