In India, a water resources dispute between local farmers and soft-drink producer Coca-Cola has attracted international attention. Farmers report that water levels under their land now drop 10 feet every year because of the water used by Coke factories, instead of 1 foot each year prior to the building. The farmers say their weak water pumps can't keep up with the water depletion and that they are unable to water their crops efficiently. Coca-Cola already shut down one factory in India over a similar controversy and is pushing back this time. The company says its impact on the water supply is minimal, and has agreed to help finance irrigation systems for the farmers and rain collection systems. Quotes "Every day, a thousand vehicles come out of that factory taking away our water. What is left for our kids?" - Ram Sapat, farmer "Exploitation, pollution, encroachment, Coca-Cola is doing all three. That's why I say that no company has the right to steal the common water resource. No company has the right to pollute water that is our life." - Rajendra Singh, water activist "You know, walking away is the easiest thing we can do. That's not going to help that community build sustainability." - Atul Singh, president, Coca-Cola India "India has a completely irrational groundwater management policy, where, if you have the means and the resources, you can extract as much groundwater as you like and you can use this water which you essentially pump up for free." - Siddharth Varadarajan, newspaper editor Warm Up Questions 1. Where does the water you use and drink each day come from? 2. How does a community's water supply get replenished? Discussion Questions 1. Do you think Coca-Cola owes anything to the local farmers? Why or why not? 2. Who, if anyone, is responsible for ensuring that India's farmers have access to enough water to continue to produce crops? Is enough being done? 3. What are some of the things communities in India, southern California and other dry areas should do to alleviate water shortages? 4. The report references action by Michigan students boycotting Coca-Cola because of their role in India, which prompted Coca-Cola to agree to an assessment of their activities. What are some other situations where boycotts have made companies take a particular action? Additional Resources Pulitzer Center: Water Wars