Drive Against Illegal Packaged Drinking Water Continues In Guwahati, One Arrested

GUWAHATI : Illegal packaged drinking water factories are still functioning in Guwahati without paying any sort of taxes to the government. Despite a drive by the Kamrup (metro) district administration and Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), more than 50 factories are still carrying out their businesses in and around the city.

According to the Guwahati police official's statement, this is a major threat to public health. Along with hazardous health consequences, it is also causing a massive loss in revenue to the state government as these factories are running illegally without paying GST or other taxes. In order to run a factory of packaged drinking water, licences like BIS, FSSAI, pollution, industries department registration and trade licenses are a necessity.

On 24th of November, the Bhagadattapur police station detained one person and seized a vehicle carrying 15 jars of 20 litres capacity of illegal water. The vehicle carried fake 'Bailley packed drinking water' jars in it. The arrested person who was driving the vehicle has been identified as Nayantan Deka. Apart from this, 15 jars of 20 litre capacity was seized from Kahilipara area of Guwahati by the the Bhagadattapur police.

The jars had 'Bailley' stamped on it. The driver admitted that he had sold some 20 litre jars to different establishments and refilled them from an illegal factory at regular intervals.

From a few months, the Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration has started a clampdown on unauthorised water packaging agencies in the city. The operation was carried out as a result of several public complaints and a Magisterial Enquiry finding against such violated practices. Taking public health into consideration, five such unscrupulous businesses were seized by the legal authority early this year. A Task Force including Circle Officers, Magistrates, Food Safety officials and Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) carried out the operation and served closure notices to five established- Sure Life bottling factory at Saukuchi, M/S Trappist - 1, M/S Rhino Aqua at Sijubari, M/S Pacific water and unnamed bottling plant at Notboma, Sijubari.

Also Read : Kamrup (M) Admin Serves Closure Notices To Five Unauthorized Drinking Water Bottling Plants

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