Question : QUALITY OF PACKAGED DRINKING WATER

(a) whether any complaints have been received regarding the quality of packaged drinking water;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken in this regard indicating the number of cases reported, samples collected, those found contaminated and the persons/companies booked during each of the last three years and the current year;

(c) whether the Ministry is still responsible for regulation of quality of packaged water despite creation of a separate Ministry for drinking water and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(d) whether the work of quality regulation of packaged water is being affected by lack of co-ordination between various Ministries/ departments/agencies involved therein and if so, the details thereof and the remedial/corrective measures taken in this regard?

MINISTER OF THE STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K. V. THOMAS)

(a) & (b) Yes Madam. The details of complaints received and the action taken thereafter are given in Annex-I and Annex-II.

(c) & (d) The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution administers Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) which lays down quality standards for Natural Mineral Water and Packaged Drinking Water. The safety of food items including Packaged Drinking Water is looked after by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) which comes under administrative supervision of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Ministry of Drinking Water and sanitation is responsible for providing drinking water and improved sanitation for all, at all times, in rural India. The present arrangement is working well and there is perfect coordination among all Ministries and organisations.