Coca-Cola factory contaminated Kelani water
View(s):Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka, in a public statement issued this week, confirmed that the company has temporarily halted operations on a directive by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) over a serious oil leak that contaminated the Kelani Ganga water.
The leak occurred on election day – August 17th, the company said.At the time water supply was disrupted in and around Colombo but no reason was given by the authorities in the public announcement for the water cut until it emerged in the media that this was due to a fuel leak into the river which is the main source of water supply to the city of Colombo.
Thursday’s statement by Coke said that “on 17th August, our staff noticed a leakage of diesel from a fuel pipe line. The leak was plugged immediately by the staff on night duty. However, by the time this leak was plugged, some oil had escaped into the nearby water body, through storm water drainage system”.
The company said local authorities were informed “as soon as we noticed it” and took corrective and precautionary measures in consultation with them. As an immediate measure, several corrective measures were taken at the plant. This included discontinuing the use of the affected fuel pipeline and blocking storm water drainage.
The services of an independent engineer were obtained to ascertain and verify the effectiveness of the corrective and preventive measures implemented. “Additionally, we initiated exhaustive preventive actions to avoid any such occurrence in future and are cooperating with the authorities,” the statement said.
“We are also confirming that we are in receipt of a letter from the Central Environment Authority and have already complied with it by temporarily halting operations in our plant. We take this matter seriously and sincerely regret this inadvertent error and are committed to putting in place measures to prevent such an occurrence in the future,” the multinational company said.