The march for Rights to Water has discovered more examples of effluent dumping by the Colas in Hathras and in Mathura.

Some things seem the same across the Cola plants, as the Right to Water march has discovered. Dumping effluents in farmers' fields - in Plachimada, in Mehdiganj, in Hathras, in Mathura. Getting the local administration to put down any democratic or peaceful protest - in Plachimada, in Mehdiganj, in Hathras, in Mathura, in Kaladera. Allegations of paying off local administrators....

The march discovered that Kaladera has constant police protection for the plant - any time any group wants to demonstrate against the activities of the plant, section 144 is enforced. So the marchers filed an applications of an FIR against the plant for stealing water that belonged to the people. Despite section 144, the marchers had a large and long meeting in the middle of the community with local businesspeople, and residents listening in. There was a large police presence around the meeting.

Earlier, the Jal Adhikar Yatra targetted the Coca-Cola plant in Hathras and Pepsi plant near Mathura as they continue their yatra to Kaladera and Delhi. Both Coca-Cola and Pepsi plants responded by calling the police on the protestors.

The farmers in Hathras recounted problems of having a giant Cola industry in their midst which has happened everywhere where the soft drink manufacturer exists. 50-60 farmers took the yatra activists to the fields which have been polluted by the effluents released from the plant.

After protests by the farmers, Coca-Cola is building a underground pipe in the guise of building a public road for the village to a canal 3km away where it plans to release the effluents. The farmers have opposed the construction of the pipe and the canal.

The farmers also alleged of Coca-Cola's exploitation of ground water in the region and corruption of the local panchayat leader. In support of the jal adhikar yatra and the farmers, a rally was taken to the district magistrate office and demands were placed for action against Coca-Cola.

On the previous day, the activists visited Aligarh Muslim University. A film on Mehndiganj was shown and a discussion was organized among the students by the student union led by its president Abdul Hafiz Gandhi. A press conferece was also arranged in Aligarh.

The yatra team visited Mathura on September 27th and 28th where a rally was taken by the local group Construction Struggle Committee and yatra activists. The activists also conducted a protest against the nearby Pepsi plant. The plant responded by calling the police.

After listening to the activists, the police allowed the protest in front of the Pepsi gate. The protest was led by Nandlal Master, Construction Struggle Committe and Magsaysay Awardee 2002 who is also a senior social activist- Dr Sandeep Pandey.

The march proceeds to Delhi where demonstrations are planned from October 3^rd through 5^th. Thousands of people ill-affected by water privatisation and deprived of having access to natural resources like ground water, are marching to Delhi. The march has got tremendous and unprecedented support from common people, as it progressed ahead through the UP heartland. Now it is all set to enter Rajasthan state and then finally march towards Delhi.

Please participate and stand alongside in solidarity, when the march reaches New Delhi. For programme details, please call: Rajendra Ravi, 9868200316, Faisal, 9313106745, Shreeprakesh, 9818030423, Rajeshwar, 9871602612, bobby ramakant 9312025708Contacts: Nandlal Master, Lok Samiti Varanasi, 9815300520