The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Drinking water pouches’ manufacturing unit raided

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 05, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Other States

Other States - Orissa

Drinking water pouches’ manufacturing unit raided

Staff Reporter

BMC officials allegedly receiving threat calls after the raid

Concern over water sold in pouches as its contamination may lead to epidemics
Samples collected again from the unit for testing

BERHAMPUR: Officials of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation raided a drinking water pouch manufacturing unit operating in the city on Saturday.

It was alleged that the municipal officials received threatening telephonic calls in the afternoon following the raid.

The municipal officials filed FIR in the town police station regarding these threatening calls related to the raid conducted by them.

Municipal health officer Sashibhusan Panda along with the food inspector led the raid on the unit that existed in Gandhinagar area of the city. It was alleged that the unit was not keeping with the prescribed standards while manufacturing the drinking water pouches.

Speaking to newsmen Dr Panda said they had raided the unit basing on the test reports of the samples collected from the unit in March.

The samples had been sent to testing laboratories in Bhubaneswar for testing. It was found that the water samples from the drinking water pouches manufactured by the unit contained impurities much more than the prescribed limits.

The pouches claimed to be containing tonic water with added vitamin A. But the drinking water pouches had no vitamin additive. The municipal officials again collected samples from the unit for testing.

The health officials of the municipality said they were concerned about the water sold in pouches as its contamination can lead to epidemics. In the past the municipal officials have targeted drinking water pouches, which did not have vital data including the date of their manufacture printed on them. The drinking water pouches not having date of manufacture printed on them were seized and destroyed at the retailers point. But till now no major action has been taken against the erring manufacturers of drinking water pouches.

Usually these drinking water pouches contain plain water. But the pouches claim to be containing toned water, jal jeera or flavoured water in them. In this drinking water scarce city, these drinking water pouches sell like hot cakes.

They are sold at one rupee per pouch. Manufacture of drinking water pouches has become a cottage industry here.

Usually no one is sure of the quality of water sold in these pouches.

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

Other States