New Delhi, Mar 26: Less than 24 hours after an inquiry committee submitted its report on bottled drinking water, government officials revealed cancelling ISI mark licences of two units including one manufacturing the brand 'Bisleri' for not meeting the existing quality standards. "There is no question of giving clean chit to water companies, inspections continue nationwide. Krish Bottlers and Ajanta Beverages of Rajasthan have been directed to stop using the ISI mark," a top BIS official told.
He said Ajanta Beverages was bottling water for 'Bisleri' brand and so far, six units associated with the company have failed Bureau of Indian Standards' sample tests. Krish Bottlers was selling water under the brand name 'Piyojal'.
The exercise will continue in the coming days and the total number of units asked to close shop in the last two months has risen to 22, he said adding action of varying degrees has been taken against leading brands like Bisleri, Kinley (Coca Cola) and Aquafina (Pepsico).
Withdrawal of ISI mark automatically debars a unit from manufacturing packaged and bottled drinking water since the quality licence is mandatory for the product.
The official said Krish Bottlers (Jaipur) and Ajanta Beverages (Jodhpur) were given 'stop marking' orders after consecutive samples of these companies failed to meet the existing quality standards.
The samples failed in the requirements of aerobic microbial count and yeast and mould leading to cancellation of licence, he added.
Bureau Report