Mahesh Bhatt supports villagers fighting against Cola plant

Mumbai, June 8 (UNI) Film director Mahesh Bhatt today came out in support of villagers in Mediganj, 20 km from Varanasi, who are on an indefinite protest outside the Coca Cola bottling plant since March 23 demanding its closure.

The plant is in operation since 1999 and has allegedly caused a fall in water table to the extent of 50 ft.

Sandip Pande, an activist involved with the movement, told reporters on August 19 last year that the Kerala Pollution Control Board had ordered closure of the Coca Cola bottling plant in Plachimada after cadmium was fouund in the sludge generated by the plant, thus posing a serious threat of contamination to the ground water.

Mr Pandey alleged that the Coca Cola plant in Mehdiganj has encroached upon gram sabha land and appealed to all the consumers citizens, film and sports personalities, who endorse beverages like Coke and Pepsi to help the Varanasi villagers in closing down the plants.

Mr Bhatt said film personalities should be made aware about the ground realities happening in and around the factories of Coca Cola plants so that they themselves would think on the issue.

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