A study conducted by the Central Ground Water Board in Perumatty in Kerala’s Palakkad district, where Coca-Cola is allegedly exploiting the groundwater resource, has revealed that over 92 per cent of the total available groundwater is used for irrigation and only about one per cent is used by industries.

The report said the total groundwater available in Perumatty panchayat is 17.4 million cubic metres, of which 16.125 mcm is used for irrigation, 1.08 mcm by households and only 0.2 mcm is used by industries.

It vindicates an earlier study by the Central Water Resources Development and Management here that arrived at the conclusion that even after meeting all requirements, there was still water left for industrial uses in the area. The board was asked to study the groundwater situation in Perumatty by the Union Water Resources Ministry following a question raised in Rajya Sabha regarding the use of groundwater. The study was made taking into account water consumed by Coca-Cola prior to March 2004 since when its plant stopped operations there.

An expert committee held a detailed investigation for about 18 months on the Kerala High Court’s directive and concluded in February 2005 that there was adequate scope for the Coke factory to withdraw five lakh litres of groundwater a day under normal rainfall conditions.

The study also said since the panchayat is an agrarian one, the groundwater requirement for irrigation is more and farmers are tapping up to 300 metres below ground level for water.