The plant is being developed at the government-owned industrial area in Gangaikondaan where a Coca Cola plant already functions.
Eight people suffered injuries in a police lathi charge during a protest against an upcoming Pepsi bottling plant in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelvelli district today.
The protesters, all members of political party Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi, are opposing Pepsi's plant that would reportedly draw two million litres of water from the Tamirabarani River every day, once commissioned.
The plant is being developed at the government-owned industrial area in Gangaikondaan where a Coca Cola plant already functions. Local farmers and residents are worried another plant would mean less water for them for drinking and irrigation.
"We are scared, there would be water scarcity for human consumption and for agriculture during summer - if not next year, then in years to come," said Sudhakar, a local farmer.
Sources say the government would supply water to Pepsi at a price of 3.75 paise per litre. T Velmuruguan, founder of the Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi, said "One lakh acres of crop depend on this only perennial river in Tamil Nadu. If it's sold to private companies where would people in the three districts of Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Virudhunagar go?"
A decade ago locals protested when Coca Cola built its plant too.
A few months ago, the Tamil Nadu government cancelled permission for Coca Cola's Rs 500 crore plant in the Erode district following pressure from farmers.