PALAKKAD: The Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Limited has in a statement said that the allegations of excessive usage of groundwater by the company is baseless. This has been substantiated by studies conducted by all expert bodies, it added. In an official statement by the company, it said that the plant at Plachimada in Kerala has not been operational since March 9,2004. While in operation before March 2004, the plant was a zero discharge plant - a plant which treats and utilises effluents within its premises completely and also does not discharge effluents outside the plant. It said that the plant was regularly inspected by all statutory bodies and was always found to be compliant of the required regulations. Most of the studies by the expert bodies are in public domain and have also been considered by the Kerala High Court in arriving at its conclusion that there is