May 27, 2007
Coke Not to Close Kerala Plant: Official By Arun
Kumar
Atlanta
Coca-Cola will not close its plant in Kerala where it had to suspend
operations two years ago following an agitation against it for
allegedly misusing ground water resources, a top company official
said here.
Several government tests have found the allegations to be baseless
and the company is ready to wait until the issue is resolved to the
satisfaction of everyone, said Jeff Seabright, vice president,
environment and water resources, at Coca-Cola.
"India is important for us and we are committed to be there for the
long term," Seabright said at the grand opening in Atlanta of the
new "World of Coca-Cola" attraction, which tells the 121-year-old
company's success story through a thousand rare artefacts.
"It's (the company) also learning everyday to be a better corporate
socially responsible citizen," he said, noting that the firm is
building 320 rain harvesting structures in India.
It is also helping in rejuvenation of traditional water bodies
called 'bawaris' in Rajasthan, building check dams in Andhra Pradesh
and is involved in a major watershed development project.
Similarly, Coca-Cola is running 70 programmes in 40 other countries
with a total investment of $17 million to ensure access to clean
drinking water in underserved communities where it operates,
Seabright said.
Environmental projects in India are among community-based programmes
featured on a portrait wall in the new world of Coca-Cola. Here,
audio wands let visitors listen to people in the larger-than life
portraits about how they have been touched by such programmes.
The 92,000 sq ft facility also has a collection of over-sized
Coca-Cola "folk-art" bottles from India and other countries. Created
by artists across the world, these were displayed to the public
during the 1996 summer Olympics held in Atlanta.
Guests can also wander through a real, functioning bottling plant
via a glass tunnel with a "ghost" image explaining what's happening.
The pop culture gallery provides a look at how celebrities from
around the world have interpreted the brand through art.
A 4D short film "In Search of the Secret Formula" follows an
eccentric scientist and his assistant as the seats shake and water
is sprayed on one's face adding another dimension to the experience.
An original Coca-Cola can from a trip on board the space shuttle
Challenger in 1985, when the a soft drink was first served in outer
space, is also on display.
So is an Oscar statue for the 1982 Best Picture "Gandhi". The
company got the prize as it then owned Columbia pictures studios
that produced the film.
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