As part of its efforts to control packaged drinking water of substandard quality, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Southern region, has intensified its drive against units that misuse ISI mark.
Nearly a dozen raids have been conducted in the past year based on complaints received from consumers. Five of the nine units found to be misusing the ISI mark were in and around the city.
Officials of the BIS said that there had been tremendous growth in the packaged drinking water industry over the last few years owing to the rising demand in the city. On an average, the organisation received 12-15 applications every month for starting a packaged drinking water unit in the State. Of this, 60 per cent are those who want to start a unit in the fringes of the city. The number of units in the State has increased from 500 to 630 units over the last two years. Of this, 230 licences have been given to operate the units in the periphery of Chennai. As the industry is fast developing, the field visits by BIS personnel have also been increased.
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Licences given to six units were cancelled in the last fiscal for misuse of ISI mark and for functioning during the period when their licences were kept under suspension. The units have to submit fresh applications for licence and they would be closely monitored.
In a bid to ensure quality of the water supplied, samples lifted from the market have been increased from 90 taken every month to 130 now, said an official of BIS. Nearly 700 samples were collected and tested during the market survey in the past 10 months. Of this, nearly 15 per cent were found to be of substandard quality mainly due to poor storage condition. The units concerned are provided a week's time to improve the standard.
V. Murali, patron of Tamil Nadu Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers' Association, said the concept of direct sales through dealers is catching up in the city. The association would co-ordinate with the BIS to identify units without proper licences.
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