Responding to a request under RTI, the GoI Hydrology department has shown that water levels in 9 out of 13 stations in Varanasi district have fallen below drought conditions; yet, the Coca Cola plant continues to pump water out of the ground.

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The government of UP has been considering declaring drought in the districts of Varanasi. Local communities even report rumours that the government might even ask farmers to stop pumping water from their wells.

Under conditions of drought like conditions, Lok Samiti - a local organization active on water issues in the region - found out from the regional hydrologist that water levels have fallen even more. Last year, 5 stations were reported to have drought or drought like conditions based on the water table. This year, the 9 stations have reported such conditions. The table from the office of the hydrologist is shown below.

While local farmers are finding it difficult to access water, and the government considers whether it should 'declare' the area as drought-striken (which might provide for some relief programs), the Coca Cola plant at Rajatalab in Mehndiganj continues to pump humdreds of thousands of liters of water everyday. Their deep boring infrastructure and the drive for profit-making remains unaffected by the conditions of their neighbours.

At the same time, the government feels that they need to act - and act by declaring that water from deeper levels cannot be pumped out for irrigation. This may be appropriate in these drought like conditions where water needs to be conserved. However, these representatives of the people have been unwilling to ask the Coca Cola plant to put a moratorium on its activities that drain the water table.

And no one seems to care.

- The data was put together by Lok Samiti, Mehndiganj, Varanasi