Chennai: Only 34 of the 85 samples picked up by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) from the packaged drinking water units in Chennai and tested by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) were found to be ‘satisfactory’.
The TNPCB produced this report before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday responding to the suo motu notice by NGT in March pertaining to the shutting down of 98 water units in the city by TNPCB for running without government permits. The NGT comprising Justice M Chockalingam and expert member R Nagendran has asked the TNPCB and FSSAI to collect samples for a second time from the units that allegedly supplied the sub-standard and non-potable water, as they pleaded that they were not given prior notice of the inspection.
TNPCB and FSSAI officials collected samples from 92 water units this May as six units had stopped functioning. The break up goes like this: Just 34 units among the 92 sell water which is in the ’satisfactory’ category and 17 firms sell sub-standard water but potable. Samples from 26 units were found to be unsafe and sub-standard and samples from eight other firms tested to be completely unsafe and not potable.
A senior TNPCB official explained to DC that potable water is tested for various parameters such as PH count, which should be neutral at seven as more than PH-7 would mean that the water is alkaline and a count less than seven would mean that it is acidic. The labs also tested the water for TDS (total dissolved solids) and for bacterial contents such as coliform and e-coli. “The major problem in many tested samples now was violation of bacterial content. They were unsafe for humans”, the officer said, requesting anonymity.
TNPCB to get full details on number of bottled water firms
Pramila Krishnan
For the first time, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) will find out how many bottled water firms are operating across Tamil Nadu.
The board was directed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday to produce a full-fledged report on the packaged drinking water firms in the state and whether the units are functioning with or without license and BIS certification, on July 2, 2013. While delivering orders on packaged water firms, justice M.Chockalingam asked the TNPCB to serve show cause notices to all the water firms in the state and prepare the report with their replies.
More than 860 private firms are the members of the Tamil Nadu packaged drinking water traders association. Now with the count by the TNPCB all the water firms will be found out and also their licenses will be checked. NGT judge M.Chockalingam and expert member R.Nagendran pronounced that all the firms could function as usual even if they were found to have shortcomings because closure of these firms might cause water scarcity in the state.
And firms, which got the clearance in the green court on Monday, might increase the prices exorbitantly and enjoy the trade. Earlier declaring verdict for 92 packaged water firms in Chennai, from which water samples were tested by the TNPCB and FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) and produced in the court, NGT panel said,” Electricity can be restored for 34 firms whose samples were proved to be of good standard.
For the other 51 firms, electricity will be supplied only during inspection by TNPCB to collect samples and should be suspended until further orders on July 2, 2013 by the court.” The panel also said that all 92 firms have to pay for the tests conducted by the TNPCB and FSSAI.
Speaking to DC after the verdict TNPCB member-secretary S.Balaji said, “Finding out all the water selling firms in Tamil Nadu is a tedious project. But with the help of our district engineers we will come up with this report as ordered by the NGT.” He said that expenses amounting to Rs 1. 40 lakh will be borne by the Chennai based water firms.
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