The Hindu : Semmalai assures crackdown on sale of unhygienic water

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 20, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Semmalai assures crackdown on sale of unhygienic water

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI April 19 . After adulterated food, it's now adulterated ``mineral water''. Several members in the Assembly today complained of the sale of adulterated ``mineral water'' across Tamil Nadu and also of the exorbitant price of the packaged water.

Faced with a barrage of anxious queries, the Health Minister, S. Semmalai, admitted that some manufacturers, for ``making commercial gains'', were dumping adulterated packaged water in the market.

He assured the House of a crackdown on the sale and manufacture of ``unhygienic water'' which could cause diseases.

The Health department had collected 22 samples of which two brands were found to be spurious. The Centre had issued a GO and the Madras High Court a stern directive that packaged water with ISI seal alone should be sold. Both health and sanitary inspectors were asked to initiate action against the manufacturers of adulterated mineral water under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.

The public should also be vigilant and if possible, during travel, carry boiled water from home, the Minister advised.

Call for raids

But the unconvinced MLAs insisted that the Government conduct massive raids on outlets selling such packaged water.

While Kovai Thangam (TMC) demanded stern action, I. Ganesan (PMK) and K. Pandurangan (AIADMK) said mineral water was priced higher than milk and the manufacturers should be asked to peg the price at reasonable levels.

C. Gnanasekarn (TMC) said the Police department should also be roped in to crack down on the manufacturers of adulterated mineral water.

P. K. Sekar Babu (AIADMK) demanded a ``supervisory squad'' to check their sales. S. A. M. Hussain (DMK) asked the Government to seize the ``mineral water cans, bottles and sachets'' which did not have the ISI seal as the public, in a fit of thirst during summer might not be able to look for the genuine product.

Accepting the members' suggestions as ``good'', the Minister

said he would consider measures to reduce the sale price of the mineral water, besides checking the sale of adulterated water.

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