E-Paper
Water being sold in poly bags
DESPITE BLANKET ban on sale of water in polythene pack, children, belonging to the age group of eight to ten years, can be seen selling polythene-packed water at different crossings in the city. The water being sold by these children is highly contaminated and may cause harm to those who are drinking it. Besides polythene-packed water, there are water-carts serving water to the people. This water is also highly contaminated.Aarti Sachdev, who aspires to be become an engineer, said, ?I believe that people who are in extreme need purchase water packed in polythene.
DESPITE BLANKET ban on sale of water in polythene pack, children, belonging to the age group of eight to ten years, can be seen selling polythene-packed water at different crossings in the city.
The water being sold by these children is highly contaminated and may cause harm to those who are drinking it. Besides polythene-packed water, there are water-carts serving water to the people. This water is also highly contaminated.
Aarti Sachdev, who aspires to be become an engineer, said, “I believe that people who are in extreme need purchase water packed in polythene. Although people know that the water they are buying is highly contaminated, they consume it.”
She further said, “Once I was very thirsty, and on finding no way out, I bought polythene-packed water. Just as I opened the pack and about to drink the water, it began to spread foul smell.”
Vipin Kumar, a tempo driver, said, “I do not mind whether the water is pure or impure, as after driving vehicle throughout the day, I am so fatigued that a glass of cold water rejuvenates me.”
“It quenches my thirst. And that’s is all for me,” he added.
Dr Sumeet Banerjee said, “The water carried by the water-carts is equally harmful to health. As the water-carts can’t be cleaned properly from inside because of its structure. Most of the time fungus prevails inside it. The water is very, he told. Handpumps are also another source to get water to their tanks.
“Water scarcity can be seen every where in the city. If I am extremely thirsty, I have to purchase water from these carts,” says a student, Ramesh Kumar.
Talking to The Hindustan Times, Nagar Swasthaya Adhikari Dr JP Gupta said that authorities were aware of the fact that polythene-packed water was being sold.
Several drives have been launched to punish the guilty.”
Dr Gupta further said that as far as water-cart’s water and mineral water was concerned only sampling was done. If the water was found contaminated, only then action was be taken. Those who were engaged in selling polythene-packed water were asked to pay a fine of Rs 1000. They could be put behind bars for a period of six months and the term might increased up to three years, he added.
