(a) whether the Government has made any National Level Survey to check out the irregularities in the selling of ‘bottled water’ in the organized water market;
(b) if so, the details and the results thereof; and
(c) if not, the other steps taken to check such
irregularities in this sector?
THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES(PROF. SAIF-UD-DIN SOZ)
(a) Bureau Indian Standard (BIS) has informed that no survey
has been conducted.
(b) Does not arise.
(c) As informed by BIS, necessary guidelines have been
provided through Gazette Notification GSR 759(E) and GSR
760(E). The guidelines states that no person shall
manufacture, sell or exhibit for sale bottled water except
under the Bureau of Indian Standard Certification Marks. The
BIS has also informed that the responsibility to enforce the
above notification rests with Ministry of Health and its
implementation in States by State implementing authority.
However, responsibility with regard to certification of
product for its quality rests with BIS. Further, in order to
create awareness, BIS organizes workshops in association with
State Governments and Industry Associations. Recently, a
symposium was organized at Hyderabad by BIS alongwith Ministry
of Consumer Affairs of Government of Andhra Pradesh to create
the public awareness.