The local self government (panchayat) in Ballia, in the state of U.P., led by headwoman Chinta Devi, passed a resolution to take back village land that the local Coca Cola plant has illegally occupied.

Ballia is the site of one of Coca Cola’s more than 50 bottling plants. And like elsewhere, there plants have continued to profit by severely dumping externalities on local communities.

Besides draining local groundwater which is irreplaceable, the plant in Ballia has occupied village land illegally. The plant first acquired land on both sides of the village main road – a largely dirt road. It then built its boundary walls in a way that almost enclosed this road.

The villagers use this road for transportation of their goods and to stay connected within the village and with other villages. On 9th December, 2005, the manager of the Coca Cola plant gave orders to set up gates between the boundary walls on both sides of the road such that the village road was cut off from public accessibility.

On 11th, the village panchayat passed a resolution to have the illegal gate removed and followed that with action right away.

Now the village body has decided to start a volunteer driven effort involving all members of the village to lay down a stone bed on the road and perhaps put asphalt so that the road becomes stronger. The effort begins on January 1st.

In Mehdiganj, the local court has ruled that the Cola plant premise has taken over village land illegally. While the verdict was given over a year ago, the local administration has yet to act on it and get the land back to the village.

Related Links
Anti Coke Padayatra in Andhra Pradesh
Communities in Ballia, Kaladera want Coke Out
Economics of Externalities
Superstars Make Money Endorsing Exploiters of Communities