Chennai authorities seal 6 illegal packaged drinking water units after raids find dead pigeon, no testing labs
Raids were carried out at 19 packaged drinking water units last week in Chennai and its neighbouring districts.
3 min read
Raids were carried out at 19 packaged drinking water units last week in Chennai. (Express photo) Chennai residents, who are gasping for some respite due to the hot weather, have more reasons to worry than just the heat.
Officials of three organisations — Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) and Greater Chennai Corporation (GCP) — have recently found six units of packaged drinking water operating without proper licenses. All the six erring units, operating from areas like Koyambedu, Nesapakkam, etc, were sealed.
Speaking to indianexpress.com, P Satheesh Kumar, the designated food safety officer of Chennai, said, “I was shocked when I found a dead pigeon inside the lab of one of the packaged drinking water units in North Chennai.”
Raids were carried out at 19 packaged drinking water units last week in Chennai and its neighbouring districts. The officials also found that the bottles filled with chemicals needed to test the quality of water do not have manufacturing or expiry details in several labs.
To meet the demand for packaged drinking water during the summer, many unauthorised, non-licensed packaging units crop up. (Express photo)
In summer, the water levels in Chennai generally drops and majority people opt for lorry water services for daily consumption and accommodations that do not have proper water connections (which is the case in many areas, especially in the apartments) depend heavily on packaged water for drinking purposes.
According to a senior official of the CMWSSB, to meet the demand for packaged drinking water during the summer, many unauthorised, non-licensed packaging units crop up in the city while the existing units try to increase their production by ignoring meticulous checks for quality.
People, buy the cans from these unauthorised units since they charge lesser than what the legal units charge. (Express photo)
Kumar said, contaminated water may lead to water-borne diseases like cholera and typhoid. “Sample tests have to be carried out for every batch before they are dispatched. There should be proper labelling. The water cans have to have the ISI, BIS and FSSAI licence details. The manufacturing details have to be present on the sealing cover and it goes on without saying that the cans have to be clean and transparent. If these details aren’t there, it is definitely a violation,” Kumar said.
He added, “People, without realising the health hazards, buy the cans from these unauthorised units since they charge Rs 10 to Rs 15 lesser than what the legal units charge or may be because they are closer to their homes and the delivery time is less. But they need to be made aware of the health hazards.”
People who wish to raise complaints over the quality of packaged drinking water on WhatsApp can reach the Food Safety Department on 9444042322. They can also register their complaint at http://www.foodsafety.tn.gov.in or through the TN Consumer App.
You May Like
Photos
