Rayagada district administration conducted multiple and simaultaneous raids yeaterday on the water bottling plants in the district, especially in Rayagada and Gunupur towns. The findings were shocking. Of the 6 plants raided, three did not have valid licenses and were flouting all norms, besides packing water in the most unhygenic conditions. In one unit named Shekar Aqua, it was seen that the water was probably filled in the cheap plastic bottles from the tap itself and then sealed and labelled in a crude method. Thus maximimisng the profitmargin to as much as a thousand percent.
Packaged water is a very lucarative industry and day in and day out it is seen that number of new bottling and packaging units are set up. The ignorant masses of the interior areas and the capactive customers such as in trains are the target group for such companies, who sell such spurious packaged water bottles for as high as Rs.15. This type of adulteration of water is an invitation to water borne diseases and as a part of preparation for the coming epidemic season, the district administration has conducted such raids, Collector Rayagada said.
He also said that the district administration had been gathering intelligence about such spurious activities and conducted simultaneous raids in many places. In Rayagada town nd nearby areas uh as JKpur, the raids were lead by Collector himself and in Gunupur, Sub Collector Jayakumar Venkat carried these raids.
The stock has been siezed and kept in the town Police station. The illegal units have been sealed and the concerned authorities fon Health dept and Municipality have been pressed into action.