JPC giving finishing touch to report on soft drinks

The parliamentary committee probing allegations of pesticides in soft drinks has almost completed its deliberations, sources said.

The Joint Parliamentary Committee probing allegations of pesticides in soft drinks has almost completed its deliberations and is giving finishing touches to its three volume report, according to sources.

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At its marathon meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday, the JPC members deliberated on the three volume report after having met representatives of Coca Cola and Pepsi and the officials of the Health Ministry earlier this month.

"This (today's) could be our last meeting and if needed it might spill over to another one", a JPC member said.

The JPC, which also looked into the issue of quality standards for other beverages, had sought extension till the beginning of Parliament's Budget session for presentation of report.

However, in view of the impending Lok Sabha polls, the committee was asked to expedite its work before the dissolution of the lower house of Parliament.

According to sources, a draft had already been prepared and it was being scrutinised.

Those who made the presentations before the JPC last month included Central Ground Water Board, Ground Water Authority and the Secretary in the ministry of Water Resources.