Kathmandu : It was recently revealed that the water being supplied by many companies based in Kathmandu Valley were contaminated with inedible substances and e-coliform bacteria, found in faeces.
A few weeks ago, the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) conducted tests on samples collected from 50 water companies operating in Kathmandu and found the presence of e-coliform bacteria in the water of 74 percent of the companies. Director General at the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC), Sanjeev Kumar Karna, said they have been conducting further investigation to find how many other water companies have been supplying contaminated water.
According to a list provided by the department to Hakahaki, water samples of Sagarmatha Foods and Beverage Pvt Ltd, Godavari Mineral Water Product, Core Spring Water Pvt Ltd, Mata Saraswati Khanepani Pvt Ltd, Pachali Bhairabh Water Purification Company, Real Spring and Beverage Pvt Ltd, Aqua Godavari Beverage Pvt Ltd, and Complete Minieral Water Udhog were found contaminated with harmful micro-organisms.
Similarly, the waters supplied by Royal Spring Mineral Water and Beverage Pvt Ltd, Aqua Safe Drinking Water Pvt Ltd, Spring Water, Badikhel Khanepani Udhyog, Kwality Khanipani Pvt Ltd, MB Beverage Udhyog, A & B Beverage Pvt Ltd, Complete Mineral Water, were also found contaminated, according to the list provided by the DFTQC.
The department claimed that it has already sealed seven of the companies supplying the contaminated water. The sealed water supplying companies are Sagarmath Food and Beverage of Matatirtha, Godavari Mineral water, of Godavari, Core Spring Water, Aqua Godavari Beverage and Real Spring Mineral Water. Similarly, Pachali Bhairabh Pani Prasadhan Udhyog, Complete Mineral Water Udhyog of Dhapakhel have also been sealed.
The department has directed Spring Water and Badikhel Khanipani Udhyog to produce clean drinking water. It has collected water samples from six other factories.
Director General Karna further said that the department has been lab testing the water samples from over 250 industries bottling and supplying water across the country. He said three industries of Janakpur have also been sealed.”We will take legal action against factories bottling and supplying contaminated water,” he said.
Meanwhile, Forum for Protection of Consumer Rights Nepal General Secretary Jyoti Baniya said though there are four legal acts to take action against the industries supplying contaminated water, the implementation of the laws are weak. There are legal provisions such as Black Marketeering Act, Food Act, Consumer Protection Act and Fraud Charge to take action against the industries selling contaminated water, but the government has been letting them off the hook, Baniya claimed.
