The village of Plachimada, 45 kilometers north of Cochin, hosted the world water conference in January 2004. Now what's surprising is why Plachimada was selected as the destination for the world water conference? According to some of the organisers the village is one of the finest examples of exploitation by multinational companies. The village actually houses American software giant Coca Cola's plant.

Hundreds of activists and nature-lovers drawn from across the world have flooded the sleepy hamlet of Palakkad district, proclaiming their support to the 640-day long stir initiated by the poor, mainly tribals, to preserve water resources by closing down the Coca Cola plant.

The top court in Kerala ordered the Coca-Cola plant to stop using local groundwater and arrange to get water through other sources after village officials complained it was depleting scarce supplies. The court also blocked the village council from shutting down the Coke plant.

The various other topics that were discussed in the conference included: privatization of water, climatic changes and environment, corporate control of water and dam implementation in India.

Source:www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/433361.cms
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