Date:02/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/02/stories/2007100259520400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Packaged water sans BIS mark banned

Special Correspondent

A decision to this effect taken by the Cabinet

HYDERABAD: The sale of packaged drinking water in the State without BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) mark has been banned in the State.A decision to this effect was taken by the Cabinet at its meeting here on Monday, in view of the indiscriminate sale of bottled water by unscrupulous elements without this mark, thereby affecting the health of the people.The Cabinet decided to amend the relevant provisions of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act of 1995 and the AP Municipalities Act of 1965 through an ordinance to define the “mineral water” and “packaged drinking water” and confer proper powers on the municipal and other authorities to take punitive action against those resorting to sale without BIS mark.

Information Minister A. Ramanarayan Reddy said the State would get Rs. 6,000 crore as its share out of Rs. 50,000 crore set aside by the Centre. Out of this Rs. 3,000 crore had already been spent/committed.

The meeting ratified the actions taken by the Industries Department after signing the MOU with SemIndia to set up semi-conductor Fab City, such as induction of three officials into its governing body. It cleared the proposal to allot 447 acres at Pocharam near Ghatkesar mandal in Ranga Reddy district to Infosys Technologies at Rs. 12 lakhs per acre.

The Cabinet ratified action taken by the civic body so far to improve the catchment area (240 sq kms ) of the Husainsagar under a scheme with Rs. 310 crore assistance from Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

The Minister said the loan would be repaid over 40 years.