Evaluation of legal aspects of groundwater usage by industry
Student name: Ms Pallavi Kharbanda
Guide: Dr M P Ram Mohan
Year of completion: 2016
Host Organisation: Coca-Cola, India Pvt Ltd
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr Rajesh Ayapilla
Abstract: With the world population growing and the freshwater resources depleting, there is an increased
stress on groundwater as a resource. The stage of ground water development in Indian context has
been computed to be more than sixty percent. Due to increased scarcity and declining quality of
groundwater and its poor management, light has been shed upon several concerns, which have to be
addressed through mobilizing legal institutions. It has now become important to understand that how
policy can aid in conserving this finite resource. The laws have evolved with the changing times over
the past decades. Suitable authorities and institutions have emerged to regulate the resource. More
stringent laws have been implemented in context of groundwater usage for the industrial operations
in the country. Many giants in the industrial sector such as ITC, Nestle, Coca-Cola, Hindustan
Unilever, etc. are in compliance to regulatory aspects by adopting various activities such as
monitoring groundwater levels, practicing artificial aquifer recharge in and around their plant
premises, treating the waste water generated during production by setting up effluent treatment plants
and increasing their efficiency in terms of reducing their water usage ratio. Coca -Cola, a leading
beverage manufacturer and user of 0.0024% of the total groundwater of the country, has adopted
Water Stewardship to better understand and respond to water-related risks and take steps to use
water as a resource. The company has set a goal to return to nature and to communities, water
equivalent to what they use in their production, by the process of replenishing the ground water. Even
though big industries are working their way to become water positive, there is still need to incentivize
and subsidize water conservation schemes for smaller industries.
Key Words: Groundwater, Regulate, Compliance, Coca-Cola, Replenishment
