The Hindu : Karnataka News : Unauthorised units selling packaged water thriving

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Friday, Jan 25, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Unauthorised units selling packaged water thriving

Staff Reporter

That bottle of water may actually be unhygienic

For every ISI certified unit, there may be five illegal ones
Association plans to approach High Court if Government fails to act

BANGALORE: You may find this hard to swallow but that bottled water that you think is purified may actually be unhygienic and filtered in an illegal unit if the manufacturers association is to be believed. For every ISI certified unit in the State, there could be five others operating illegally.

Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers’ Association president Vijay V. Mane told presspersons here on Wednesday that illegal units manufacturing bottled water were rampant in all districts. “Either they are faking a popular brand or just selling water without the ISI certification,” he said.

While there were 120 ISI certified units producing packaged drinking water in the State, the number of illegal units could be more than five times as many, he added.

The association threatened to take the matter to the High Court through a public interest litigation petition if the Government failed to crack down on illegal units throughout the State before February 15.

Packaged drinking water could not be manufactured, sold or exhibited for sale without ISI standard mark. BIS certification mark was mandatory under Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules 1955. A direction from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution had stated that the State health authorities were responsible for curtailing such manufacturers. India has a market of Rs. 1,500 crore in the organised packaged water segment.

Stating that the administration has thrown a blind eye on the problem, he said despite several representations to the authorities, the illegal activity continue to thrive especially in areas such as Hubli, Raichur, Bellary, Koppal, Gangavati, Bangalore and other places.

The association had written to all 29 deputy commissioners and seven corporation commissioners in the State regarding the illegal manufacturing and selling of packaged water, but action had not been taken so far.

Mr. Mane said: “Water is tested for nearly 40 parameters everyday, and BIS will be checking water samples in the market. Legal units incur nearly Rs. 5 lakh every year on testing samples as prescribed by the authorities.”

He said, illegal units did not follow any process or rules while they released adulterated or sub-standard water to the market, he said.

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