Coke to supply drinking water to locals

India/kaladera: Soft drink maker Coca-Cola India today said it would undertake a project to provide drinking water to local communities and thousands of schools by 2010 as part of its corporate social responsibility.

As part of the project, the company plans to develop 10 new watersheds across the country and also replace the ground water it uses for the production of beverages by 2009.

“We undertake diverse range of activities for the benefit of community across the country. Water management remains a priority and the company pursues the 4R programme to achieve its objective of water management and conservation,” Hindusthan Coca-Cola Beverages Deputy Vice-President (North Region) Mohammad Akeel said.

Through the 4R management programme (reducing, reusing, recycling and recharging), Coke sought to reach ‘zero water balance’ with respect to ground water usage by 2009, he said.

The company is looking to rope in partners such as NGOs, local communities and government to provide clean drinking water to children in 1,000 schools by 2010.

The project would cover nearly 30,000 children in 100 schools on completion.

In West Bengal the company was providing drinking water to 150 schools in partnership with UN-Habitat, it said.