Question : EXPLOITATION OF WATER BY BOTTLED WATER INDUSTRY

(a) whether water tax is being charged from the companies engaged in manufacturing bottled water;

(b) if so, whether the Government has worked out any regulation regarding exploitation of ground water for manufacturing bottled water;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) has submitted any report regarding usage/ commercial usage of water; and

(e) if so, the steps being taken by the Government to check exploitation of ground water and to control the exorbitant price of bottled water?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES & MINORITY AFFAIRS ( SHRI VINCENT H. PALA)

(a) Water being a State subject, the State Governments have the competence to charge water tax from the companies engaged in manufacturing bottled water.

(b) & (c) No specific regulation for drawl of ground water for manufacturing bottled water has been worked out by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).

(d) Yes, Madam. National Environmental Engineering Research Institute has prepared a report on “evaluation and benchmarking of water requirement during manufacturing of soft drinks, mineral water, beverages / liquor”. This report has been prepared with a view to understanding the industrial water use per unit of production of soft drinks, mineral water, beverages and liquor, and suggest reduction of water use. This report has been submitted to Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, Mumbai.

(e) Central Ground Water Authority has notified 82 areas (Districts, Blocks, Mandals, Talukas, Municipalities) for regulation of ground water development. In these areas, installation of new ground water abstraction structures is not permitted without prior specific approval of the Authority / Authorized officer.

Moreover, proposals for setting up/ expansion of ground water based industries including bottled water manufacturing units are forwarded by State Pollution Control Boards and Bureau of Indian Standards to CGWA for seeking No Objection Certificate (NOC) for ground water withdrawal. NOC is not accorded to such industries including bottled water manufacturing units proposed to be located in areas notified by the Authority. In non- notified areas, NOC is issued with mandatory pre-conditions of adoption of rain water harvesting system, monitoring of ground water abstraction as well as monitoring of ground water level and quality etc. by the industry. For enforcement of the regulatory directions issued under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, concerned Deputy Commissioners/ District Collectors have been authorized to take necessary action in case of violations of directives of CGWA in the notified areas.