Other States - Orissa   

Drastic fall in sale of ‘soda water’ in Berhampur

— Photo: Lingaraj Panda

NO TAKERS: A boy drinks a local made soda water at a shop in Berhampur.

BERHAMPUR: Market of traditional ‘soda-water’ is nose diving in the city. This ‘Carbonated water’ sold in traditional thick glass bottles with a glass ball fixed in their necks to seal up the gas was a tell tale mark of Berhampur to show up its links with Andhra Pradesh. It was also being sold in different flavours. Summer months were hey days for the soda-water manufacturers in the city.

But during recent years the sale of locally made soda-water has gone down drastically. Five years back there were around 40 soda-water bottling units in the city. But at present there number has gone down to 15. Earlier every small kiosk with a fridge used to keep soda-water. But now only selected shops keep them for selected customers.

Entry drinking water packets into the market and slight change in the taste of inhabitants has led to this fall in sale of soda-water. Earlier people used to drink them to quench thirst in this water scarce city as they were the cheapest source of water. But now chilled drinking water packets sold at one rupee have taken up this market. “A drinking water packet contains 200 ml of water which is the almost double the amount of water a soda water bottle contains so people prefer to use drinking water packets rather than soda-water,” said Samir Nayak owner of a kiosk that sells cold drinks.

Moreover, the new generation has become too cautious about the hygiene who are doubtful about the quality of water used in the soda water bottles, said R. Srinivas. The family members of traditional soda-water manufacturers are also not interested to continue the profession as the cost of bottles and gas used to make the drink has increased manifold and they are unable to increase the price of their product. Moreover filling gas in these water filled bottles is a dangerous job.

Many have been seriously injured by sharp glass splinters in the past when bottles exploded. So, only a few families are busy continuing this dangerous bottling profession for a small profit.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Railway Board chairman’s pat for staff
Snake Rescue team in action in Cuttack
Drastic fall in sale of ‘soda water’ in Berhampur
Ultimatum served on NIRTAR director
Naxals try to demoralise police: SP
Maoists to observe bandh on July 2
CPI (M) demands streamlining of PDS
Fast track training for new police recruits
V-C in the eye of a storm
Death of youths: outrage over ‘police inaction’
State accused of shielding criminals

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu