Many illegal water packaging units in Chennai to be removed by the food safety department
Posted on: 30/Mar/2018 9:54:55 AM
In the city of Chennai there are many illegal water packaging units is known. The news that has come out now is the department of food safety would soon be removing these illegal water packaging units that are present in Chennai.
Recently there were few cases of cholera reported in Chennai city and it shocked many. This removal of illegal water packaging units is seen as a step in the eradication of cholera in the city of Chennai.
Water cans from factories located in Thiruvallur enter the Chennai city through Koyambedu is known. The officials are now in the process of mapping these water packaging units. It is important to note that both Thiruvallur as well as Kancheepuram district are responsible for 80 percent of share in packaging water that is supplied to Chennai city. Refilling bubble top cans many times by the vendor’s is being carried out and then they are sent to the manufacturing units. It is vendor’s who run these unlicensed units,
Last week a retailer in Arumbakkam, Chennai was caught by a food safety officer when he sold untreated groundwater in cans for Rs 10 for 20 litres. One important piece of information is there are as many as 620 licensed water brands and they are operating through 4000 dealers in Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram. A water packaging unit needs clearance from the state pollution control board and license from BIS or Bureau of Indian Standards is known.
To start an illegal water packaging unit it is enough if dozen bubble tops plus reverse osmosis system are available.
Places like Arumbakkam, Mannady in Chennai have many unorganised water packaging units now. It is important to mention that near Chennai Central vendors have set up shop that sells one litre bottle of untreated groundwater for just Rs 3.
During filling and packaging the contamination of water sold by licensed manufacturer takes place and at the distribution point other violations like misbranding, repeatedly reusing containers take place. This was confirmed by an official later.
It must not be forgotten that in the year 2017 around 10 water packaging units were identified and sealed for the sake of people.
