'Govt blind to illegal drinking water units'

The Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers' Association has urged the state government to clamp down on illegal units in the districts. The association has threatened to seek legal recourse if the government failed to take action.

According to Association President Vijay V Mane, the illegal packaged drinking water units are rampant at the district level.

"These units are either faking popular brands or selling local brands without the mandatory certification. As against 120 ISI certified units engaged in packaged drinking water in the states, there are more than 500 active units," he added.

He pointed out that the association had brought the matter to the notice of the government, but action was not taken.

"The illegal units are thriving in Hubli, Raichur, Bellary, Bangalore Rural and Koppal districts. We have written to the deputy commissioners of all the 29 districts to look into the matter," he stated.

Mane said the association would take the matter to the high court through a public interest litigation if the government failed to crackdown on the illegal units before February 15. For the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to certify a packaged drinking water brand, it has to fulfill 40 different parameters.

Besides, the BIS has to randomly test the brands in the market. BIS is a certifying agency while the state is empowered to initiate action against illegal units.