Poor quality water being supplied in bottles of established companies
| Date :10-Jun-2019 |
Staff Reporter:
The multiple increase in demand for packaged mineral water during the persisting summer season has created ample scope for local manufacturers, who defy all norms of quality and supply inferior quality water in packed bottles of established companies
Apparently the cold water supplied in bottles and plastic pouches cannot be termed safe for consumption. The present spell of scorching climate increases demand for cold packaged mineral water in railway stations, bus stands and other public places.
The multiple increase in demand for packaged mineral water during the persisting summer season has created ample scope for local manufacturers, who defy all norms of quality and supply inferior quality water in packed bottles of established companies. Despite the directives issued that all branded and local manufacturers of packaged drinking water will be forced to maintain quality of water packed, any lapse found in terms of contamination in the water, would be dealt with serious note by virtue of directives issued by Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Jabalpur Division. The instructions issued seem to have little effect on a group of people at the local level involved in manufacturing of packaged water as the group involved in remake of bottles cleverly re-seal the bottles of established companies dealing in supply of mineral water.
The increasing instances of complaint pertaining to supply of contaminated water in the name of mineral water through packaged supply, has been taken with serious note by the concerned department of divisional administration. Under the directives issued in this connection, it is informed that, Deputy Director, Food and Drug Administration, Jabalpur Division has made an appeal to all manufacturing units dealing in packaged drinking water, to ensure optimum purity of water in their supply. Special attention will have to be taken by all production units involved in the packaged drinking water in the supply ranging from 1 litre to 20 litre packing of mineral water to ensure that under no circumstances should plain water be used in the name of mineral water.
Any adulteration found in the name of packaged water, will be subjected to action against the production unit of packaged water. Sources inform that, due to indifferent stance of concerned department, the alleged water offered for sale at railway stations, bus stands and other public places are being cleverly repacked in used bottles. The empty plastic bottles collected by rag-pickers are procured by the local manufacturers, who re-pack the bottles, filling it with ordinary water. People involved in the process however managed to get the bottles re-sealed, resembling the original packing of reputed companies dealing in supply of packaged mineral water. Complaints that have surfaced prominence pertaining to sale of plain water in different categories of packaged drinking water and other packs happen to be sheer violation of Food Adulteration Act.
Staff members of the concerned department would make surprise check of packaged drinking water at random. Adulteration in any form if detected in packaged drinking water, the production unit of the concerned production would be liable for stringent action as per the provision of the Adulteration Act. It may be mentioned here that, in the name of packaged drinking water, serious complaint has surfaced prominence regarding sale of plain water by many of local production units and also some of the branded units dealing in packaged drinking water. The production company label in all bottle and big packs mention of 100 percent purity guaranteed.
The claim made by production units have proved superficial in view of the fact that large number of complaint from people in this connection are already on record. In backdrop of series of complaints that came to fore on the supply of inferior quality water being supplied by production units and caterer, in view of complaints made, a move was initiated by the concerned department some time back under which sale of water through plastic pouch were subjected to laboratory examination. Inspite of the move made by the concerned department, sale of packaged drinking water through pouch at various areas across Jabalpur division remains unchecked. However, the directives issued by Deputy Director Food and Drug Administration Jabalpur Division is being widely talked among general public on the whether the directives issued by the concerned department would prove effective in the implementation of the directives issued.