The Maharashtra government announced on Tuesday that it would regulate the fast-growing packaged drinking water industry by introducing policy guidelines soon, with the intent of providing safe drinking water to citizens of the state.
MLAs had pointed out in the state assembly that a number of little-known bottled water brands have proliferated in the state’s moffusil areas; these local brands are not being monitored by the state government do not have the compulsion to adhere to the guidelines of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), and hence may not be safe for consumption. “We plead the government must take some action, as some of these brands are even being sold in plastic pouches and are unsafe for consumption,” said Mr. Patel.
Reacting to their statements, Food and Drug Administration Minister Girish Bapat said, “We will create a new law for water being sold in packages, bottles and containers. We have already written to the centre requesting to allow us to have our own rules.” He said that a BIS licence cost about Rs 1,00,000 but is not applicable on small companies. “Some are even selling water after merely boiling it in the name of selling mineral water,”
“The BIS mandates regular checks on these companies,” the Minister said, He said according to BIS norms, packaged water must be served in containers and packaging which is transparent, and the manufacturer should have a laboratory of at least 1,500 sq.ft.
