A NEW ERA IN PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP – COCA–COLA INDIA DEDICATES FIVE NEW RAIN WATER HARVESTING PROJECTS TO THE COMMUNITY
Five Rain Water Harvesting projects dedicated to the community
First private-public partnership in Lucknow in Rain Water Harvesting
Creates annual ground water recharge potential of over 30 lakh litres
Lucknow, February 23, 2006: Coca-Cola India today set an example in the area of private-public partnership in water conservation with the dedication of five Rain Water Harvesting Projects in the city. These five projects together have the potential to recharge 30,000,00 litres of ground water annually in normal monsoon. The projects have come up at Colvin Taluqdar’s College, Gopal Tirath Plaza, Nandgaon The Club, Mahindra Towers and Raja Ram Kumar Plaza in the city. The Rain Water Harvesting Project was commissioned under the aegis of Brindavan Bottlers Ltd., the authorized bottler of Coca-Cola.
Sri Ujjawal Raman Singh, Hon’ble Minister for Environment, Government of Uttar Pradesh dedicated these projects to the community at a function organised at Colvin Taluqdar’s College. Present on the occasion were Mr. John Ustas, Chief Executive Officer, Coca-Cola India Bottling Operations, Mr. M. D. Ladhani, Chairman, Brindavan Bottlers Ltd., Mr. Vivek Ladhani, Director, Brindavan Bottlers Ltd., Mr. Deepak Jolly, Vice President, Public Affairs & Communication, Coca-Cola India, Mr. Ashutosh Bharadwaj, Area General Manager, Coca-Cola, faculty and students of Colvin Taluqdar’s College and other guests.
Mr. H. L. Dutt, Principal, Colvin Taluqdar’s College welcomed the guests. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. John Ustas, Chief Executive Officer, Coca-Cola Bottling Operations, said, “It has been our constant endeavour to conserve and recharge ground water. It has also been our endeavour to create awareness on the need of water conservation and ground water recharge. The first private-public partnership in the historical city of Lucknow in the area of Rain Water Harvesting is a step in that direction. I hope that this small but significant step from Coca-Cola will give a big fillip to Rain Water Harvesting initiatives in Uttar Pradesh in general and Lucknow in particular”. Coca-Cola has already commissioned two Rain Water Harvesting projects in Varanasi district, which has the annual ground water recharge potential of over 80,000,00 litres.
Shri Ujjawal Raman Singh, Hon’ble Minister for Environment, Government of Uttar Pradesh said that Coca-Cola has done a commendable job to recharge ground water. We all know that water is vital to the existence of life. He said that with growing urbanization, concrete jungles are coming up everywhere and in the process choking the water inlets and therefore preventing the water to find its way into the ground and therefore preventing ground water recharge. Rain Water Harvesting has emerged as a viable option to redirect rain water into the ground, which otherwise goes waste. This effort will go a long way in ensuring sustained water availability for all. He also expressed the hope that the state will see more such examples of private-public partnership in the area of water conservation and recharging ground water.
On the occasion, students of Colvin Taluqdar’s College stage a skit narrating the importance of Rain Water Harvesting. The skit was very well appreciated by all including Shri Singh, who is an alumini of the college. Mr. M. D. Ladhani, Chairman, Brindavan Bottlers Ltd., thanked all present. He said, “I am proud to be associated with this project. By commissioning one of the Rain Water Harvesting projects in Colvin Taluqdar’s College, an attempt has been made to educate the new generation of the need to conserve water. I am confident that they will emerge as the brand ambassadors for water conservation. I thank the entire staff and students of the College to put an excellent show together. I thank Shri Singh for taking time out to be with us”.
About Coca-Cola India Coca-Cola India refreshes millions of consumers throughout the country with an exciting range of beverages, including Thums Up, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola, Fanta, Limca, Sprite, Maaza, Georgia, Georgia Gold, Kinley and Kinley Club Soda through a network of more than one million outlets. The company has invested more than US$ 1 billion in its Indian operations, emerging as one of the country's top international investors and company’s business operations engage approximately 6000 people in India.
