Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) In the News

Rain Water Harvesting
Flooded roads but there is good news too
By Puja Birla
The Central Ground Water Board is smiling. Its water harvesting projects have benefited from the July downpour and the results can be seen at President’s Estate, Shram Shakti Bhavan (Ministry of water resources) and Lodhi Garden. But most encouraging gains have been at Vayusenabad in south Delhi. Yet such structures in south and south-west districts — where boring has been banned — are just a handful. In Vayusenabad, last year’s scanty rainfall managed to raise levels by about 3.5 m but this July’s bounty has raised the table by 10 m. Board officials cautiously say that this is a monsoon peak and will settle but the post-monsoon reading of the water level will be at about 36 m, still 12 m above the average level. ‘‘Undoubtedly, an adequately large of piece land or surface is required to arrest the declining water levels. We are harvesting rain water in our own office, which is 1,000 sq m. Our project at Hamdard University is even better because it is spread over a 1,000 hectares. The one we have set up at Panchshil Enclave covers 3,57,150 sq m,’’ says Sunita Narain of Centre for Science and Environment.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, August 05, 2003, Page 3 supp.

Vehicular Pollution
Catch your breath
Delhi’s air pollution to go upDespite various initiatives to bring down pollution levels in the Capital, experts say the level of pollution will continue to increase in the next two decades. The Centre for Science and Environment says though cleaner automobiles may be
introduced in the years ahead, the sheer boom in the number of vehicles will ensure that high levels of pollution are maintained in the Capital. The CSE, which is involved in the drafting of the Master Plan 2021, has projected a bleak scenario for Delhi.

The Statesman, New Delhi August 03, 2003

Vehicular boom set to outpace Metro relief
A bumper-to-bumper traffic scenario has been projected for the year 2021. The present number of vehicles, which is about 35 lakh, may go beyond a staggering 54 lakh, according to a projection by Centre for Science and Environment, which is involved in the drafting of the Master Plan 2021. Experts say that by the time the Metro will be ready their number will have gone out of hand. They say surface transport will have to be improved to such a level as to handle the excess load.

The Statesman, New Delhi, August 02, 2003

Pesticides and Hazardous Products
New norms for packaged water
The Health Ministry has finally issued the much - awaited notification prescribing an upper limit for pesticide residue in packaged drinking water. As per the notification, the concentration of pesticide residue in packaged drinking water should be not more than 0.0005 mg a litre, with an extra condition that concentration of residue of any single pesticide should not exceed 0.0001 mg a litre. The notification has been in the pipeline since February after a study conducted by an NGO, Centre for Science and Environment, revealed that bottled drinking water sold in the market contained excessive quantities of pesticide residue.

The Hindu, New Delhi, July 25, 2003

New deadline for packaged water industry
The ministry of health and family welfare has finally issued a fresh deadline for enforcement of stringent norms on pesticide content in packaged water. However, an ongoing review of the standards for packaged drinking water by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) may bring the contentious issue back to square one. The new safety and quality norms for packaged bottled water will become effective January 1, 2004. A notification to this effect has been issued by the ministry for health and family welfare on July 18.

The Financial Express - Delhi - July 25, 2003, Page No. 1

Environment News
Rain washed Delhi air of pollutants: Experts
The pollution readings for July 13 from 1999 to 2003 carried out by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) indicate that besides nitrogen oxide, all pollutants have been showing a downward trend. Sulphur dioxide (SO2), is down from 17 to four in the past five years. Carbon monoxide, that could be anywhere between 6,000 to 4,000, is down to 1,887. ‘‘NOx will show a significant increase because that is the trade-off when more four-stroke engines are introduced. New technology works as a solution for some kinds of pollutants like CO and hydrocarbons. And most of these four-stroke vehicles have entered in the two-wheeler category that constitute almost 65 per cent of the total vehicular population. The world over, four-stroke vehicles have been increasing the NOx emissions,’’ explains Anumita Roy Choudhary of the Campaign for Clean Air, Centre for Science and Environment.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, July 17, 2003

Water Resources
Kamala Nehru takes up water harvesting
Sucheta Kulkarni
Realising the importance of conserving water, Kamala Nerhu College has undertaken rainwater harvesting in its premises to tide over water scarcity. Initiated by Green Beans, the Environment Club of the College, the project has been supported by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and INTACH. Guided by NGOs, the club aims to sensitise students on environmental issues.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, July 17, 2003

Dams, Water Resources and Water Harvesting Systems
Villagers’ efforts washed away
The Ruparel river flows no more. It has gone with the dam that the villagers of the area built two years ago on the Udainathji Ka Nala, one of its rainwater drains, with the support of the Magsaysay Award winner, Rajendra Singh. There is a sense of despondency among the villagers at the loss of the dam. They had shown it proudly dignitaries such as agricultural scientist, M.S. Swaminathan, the late Anil Agarwal and many others at the height of the controversy that also involved a water sharing dispute between the districts of Alwar and Bharatpur.

The Hindu, New Delhi, July 16, 2003

Vehicular Pollution
Small, deadly and diesel-driven
The smaller the polluting particle, the more potent it is. And about 70 per cent pf the respirable suspended particulate matter in the Calcutta air is 3.3 microns or less. This is small enough to reach the innermost area areas of the lungs brochii and alveoli causing irreparable damage, says a survey. Till now, 10 microns or less has been the standard index of respirable air pollution. But a recent study carried out by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board and the environment department of Jadavpur university has lowered the micron count raised the danger level and pinned the pollution blame. A similar study by the Centre for Science & Environment that put the "death due to pollution" figure at 10,647 for the year 1995.

The Telegraph, Calcutta, July 14, 2003

Water Resources
And not a drop to drink...
By Isidore Domnick Mendis
Water scarcity in India is just not confined to the stand-off between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over Cauvery waters or between Delhi and Haryana for control of River Yamuna or even between Goa and Karnataka for sharing the Mandel-Mandovi basin. Sunita Narain, the director of the all-important Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), says, "If something is nt done about the water crisis in our cities there's going to be a flash point. With our population growth getting out of hand we are heading for big trouble."

The Kashmir Times, July 13, 2003

Dams and Water Resources
Controversial Rajasthan dam washed away by rains
The controversial dam built by a team of villagers led by Magsaysay award winner Rajendra Singh on a tributary of Ruparel river at Lava ka Bas in Alwar district of Rajasthan was washed away in the heavy rains. The checkdam, constructed against the warnings of the irrigation department in 2001 gave way to the gushing rain water. The irrigation department had declared the proposed 30-ft high mud and sand checkdam being built with indigenous wisdom by the villagers of Thanagazi tehsil headed by Rajendra Singh of the Tarun Bharat Sangh as dangerous and illegal after a field inspection in June 2001. The Tarun Bharat Sangh chief was issued due notices in this regard. He also managed to bring a team of environmentalists, scientists and legal experts right from M S Swaminathan, late Anil Agrawal and Mohan Gopal to Lava ka Bas to prove his point, but the dam remained in controversy for months and the matter subsided only with the intervention of the chief minister.

Deccan Herald, Bangalore, July 12, 2003

Vehicular pollution
Hold your breath or die!
Despite emission tests being made mandatory, apathetic citizens, corruption and deforestation make pollution control difficult. Diesel vehicles emit the worst small particle pollutants. Many two stroke vehicles, buses, trucks and three wheelers can't pass the emission control tests. They contribute 70% of hydrocarbons, 40% of carbon monoxide and much of the particulate pollution to the atmosphere! The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in their study on air pollution in Delhi revealed statistics that can probably numb any one into a coma! An average of 10,000 people die every year of air pollution and 52,000 across other states in the country.

The Hindu, New Delhi, July 02, 2003

Environment protection stressed
The National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI)in Lucknow organised a lecture on the occassion of the diamond Jubilee of the CSIR. The lecture was delivered by director, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, Sunita Narain. "Growing poverty, drought and decreasing productivity of our land are making the challenge of protecting our environment, forests and biodiversity even more difficult." said Sunita Narain.

The Pioneer, Lucknow, June 28, 2003

Rainwater harvesting
‘Rainwater harvesting a washout this monsoon’
An environment group has called the rainwater harvesting programme of the Delhi Government an eyewash saying that the first monsoon showers exposed the total failure of the drive. While the city received more than 80 mm of rain in one day the precious water flowed into drains choked with sewrage and other waste and then flooded the roads. The rains proved that the water harvesting schemes promoted by the government are merely cosmetic, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in a statement here said. While evolving these grand schemes the government has forgotten to take care of the basic infrastructure that is required to ensure that the showers don’t go waste, Sunita Narain director CSE said.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, June 21, 2003

Pesticides and Hazardous Products
Pesticide issue props up Himalayan water sales
By Rina Chandran
Its pink label stands out among the blue labels of packaged water brands, but the pesticide residue report has singled out the Himalayan brand further in the Rs 1,000- crore packaged water market. In the wake of the report from the Centre for Science and Environment, which indicted the leading brands of packaged water, Himalayan has already seen a significant growth in sales, said Mr Suveen Sahib, CEO, Mount Everest Mineral Water Ltd, of the Dadi group. The study, which was released in February, said that a majority of packaged water brands — including Bisleri, Kinley and Aquafina — have higher levels of pesticide than the prescribed standard. Only Himalayan (natural mineral water), Evian (premium natural mineral water) and Catch (natural spring water) were found free of pesticide residue.

Business Line, New Delhi, June 21, 2003

She fights for every drop
By Punya Prava Rath
She is a water warrior. And the mission: Conservation of Water. She is trying to put across a message on judicious management of water and its re-use. While at school level, Savita Gokhale wants kids to understand that water is not a renewable resource. She wants the men in uniform to be the carriers of her message. For Savita, this realisation began with the problem of water scarcity in Nagaland. A meeting with water activist Rajendra Singh helped her see things in the right perspective. “Earlier, I thought people won’t listen to me, as I lacked the technical know-how on the issue,” she says. “Dying Wisdom” a book written by Anil Aggarwal from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), showed this Bapa Nagar resident the way. After a few sessions at CSE, she began conducting training seminars.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, June 19, 2003

It rained, we danced, water went down the drain!
By Chitrita Ganguly
If you live in Delhi, chances are you pray for running water every day and agonise over the poor quality of water from private suppliers just as frequently. But consider this: Delhi receives a normal rainfall of 611.8 mm during 27 rainy days every monsoon, as much as 193 million cubic metres is wasted in surface runoffs! Isn’t that reason enough to catch some rainwater, let it seep underground, thereby helping increase the water level in the area, and then draw it for use? "One just needs an engineer to design a structure and any skilled plumber can do the rest," says Ms Sumita Dasgupta, coordinator of the natural resources management unit at the Centre for Science and Environment. "The basic flaw in our water management system is that all our water trickles into the drains, mixes with sewage, gets partially treated and then flows into the rivers," Ms Dasgupta says.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, June 19, 2003

Pesticides and Hazardous Products
Perennial pesticide problems
There is long lasting, widespread harm, in the use of pesticides in excess of prescribed dosage. The diffusion starts when there is a surfeit of application. Natural control of pesticides should be advocated. Their chief advantage is that they avoid blanket killing and are quite economical. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) which exposed the abnormal presence of pesticides in most bottled water, said the BIS was backing out of setting fresh norms under pressure from the industry that is churning out by millions a day these bottled water. The CSE said that the WHO guidelines covered only 5 per cent of the 20 pesticides tested by them under the European norms.

Newstime, Hyderabad, June 18, 2003

Dams, Water Resources & Traditional Water Harvesting Systems
Talk show focuses on water and peace
"In addition to being a working lady, you are a housewife as well. How do you address the problem of water at home." That was the question that young Mohan put to film actress Nandita Das at a talk show on "Water" organised at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in New Delhi. The talk show was part of a radio workshop for children from slum areas of Delhi being organised by the IIMC. The second talk show on "Water" had children fielding questions to Ekalavya Prasad of the Centre for Science and Environment, Sarfaraz Ahmed of the School of Environmental Sciences and Nandita Das.

The Hindu, New Delhi, June 12, 2003

Delhi's clean air
Delhi has bagged the United States Department of Energy's first Clean Cities International Partner of the Year award. The award was given for the city's bold efforts to curb air pollution and support alternative fuel initiatives. A combination of factors and initiatives have contributed to the success of the campaign. The Supreme Court of India deserves a special word of praise for nudging a diffident Delhi Government into action. The late Anil Aggarwal and his Centre for Science and Environment also kept the heat on.......Editorial

The Tribune, New Delhi, June 09, 2003

A movement to value water - Sunita Narain
This drought, for the fifth consecutive year in succession, must be used as an opportunity to effect changes in practices for the management of our water resources. There must be a policy that involves communities and households. In other words, we need a water movement that values every drop of rain, says Sunita Narain on the observance of World Environment Day on June 5.

The Hindu, New Delhi, June 08, 2003

New State Academy, Pitampura, organised an Eco-club
workshop on 'Water Management and Tree Plantation Drive'
Over 250 eco-club members attended sessions conducted by resource persons from the Department of Environment, Delhi Jal Board and Centre for Science and Environment. Dr. Anil Kumar, Senior Scientific Officer - DoE laid emphasis on conservation of water at the domestic level. Mr. Kanwarjit Singh, Supt.

Engineer, DJB, said that the teachers need to be involved in creating a 'mini environment revolution' as they are instrumental in shaping young minds. School Founder, Mrs. Satya Kamrah stressed that the concern for the environment should become a way of life.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, May 07, 2003, Page 2

Pesticides and Hazardous Products
For packaged water brands, it's no dry run
In the four months since the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) published a report saying leading packaged water brands contained pesticides beyond permissible limits, these brands recorded a boom in business. Ramesh Chauhan owned Bisleri sales have grown 50 per cent since February 4, when the report was published against the same period of 2002. Pepsi's Aquafina has seen sales surge 75 per cent during the period, while sales of Coca Cola's Kinley have grown 25-30 per cent hike in prices.

Business Standard, New Delhi, May 31, 2003

Pesticides and Hazardous Products
By Tushar Mullick
Let it flow into govt kitty
Forget the much touted cola wars; the market is now heating up with competition among mineral water bottlers. The latest to enter the fray is the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation's Rail Neer, "to be sold especially at railway platforms and in trains". The bottled water operations got under way at the New Delhi railway station. It will be available at the Nizamuddin and Old Delhi railway stations from June 1. To help beat the competition, no other mineral water is to be allowed into stations, apart from at private restaurants. IRCTC managing director MN Chopra, expects Rail Neer to break even in four years. Says he, "International agencies deem our water as matching EU norms." Says Deepak Bajaj, a resident of Ghaziabad who frequently visits Delhi, "At least the government will not compromise on quality for higher profits." His wife, Karuna, a primary school teacher, nods, "The recent Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report proved private mineral water was contaminated."

The Pioneer, New Delhi, May 29, 2003

Vehicle inspection unit for South Delhi soon
The Delhi government will set up an Inspection and Maintenance Unit at Okhla, for vehicles. The second of its kind, the unit will share some load in catering to vehicles from the centre at Burrari, Transport department officials said. ‘‘The Okhla unit will be constructed by the Delhi Transport Corporation and will have a state-of-the-art workshop to mend minor problems in vehicles that come for inspection,’’ said Transport Minister Ajay Maken. The unit will be set up with the help of the Centre for Science and Environment, Maken said. The unit will not only check the mechanical fitness of the vehicles, but will also check their emission levels and give them PUC certificates, officials said.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, April 30, 2003, Page 4supp

Experts question viability, benefits of river-linking
As many as 60 eminent persons have expressed doubts over the government’s plans to link the major river basins. The interlinking of the major rivers is estimated to cost of whopping Rs 560000 crore. In a memorandum to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, they have requested him to follow the normal planning process and stressed the need to subject each of the proposed links to a rigorous examination and evaluation. The signatories to the memorandum include noted scientist RN Athavale, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, and environmentalists Vandana Shiva and Sunita Narian among others.

The Financial Express - Delhi - April 29, 2003

‘Rail Neer’ sans ‘new’ standards
After the last-minute cancellation of its launch in February, the railway is now planning to hit th tracks with Rail Neer, the in- house packaged drinking water, on 6 May. But Mr Nitish Kumar, who had earlier directed the postponement of its launch, saying it should clear the new European standards, will still have to un-bottle his team’s ambitious project without the seal of new standards. Railyway ministry sources said that after waiting impatiently for more than two months for the Bureau of India Standards (BIS) to spell out the new standards and clear ‘Rail Neer’, the ministry has decided to go ahead with the launch because BIS is yet to evolve the new quality standards.

The Statesman - Delhi - April 29, 2003

It's raining Nandita
After imprinting Bollywood and Indian theatre with her tallent, dusky beauty Nandita Das has turned an ad-director with a social cause, beginning with a 90-second spot on rainwater harvesting. The spot has been done for the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the NGO which hit the headlines with its startling study on the presence of pesticides in bottled water. CSE has been working for many years to highlight the importance of rainwater harvesting, both for rural and urban areas.

Business Line, New Delhi, April 24, 2003, Page No. 18

Citizens drop mundane chores to get together on Earth Day
Paharpur Business Centre celebrated Earth Day today by inviting people who have planted trees at Nehru Place Green and other concerned citizens and school children to water the trees at Nehru Place Green Park A large number of dignitaries and diplomats, including Catherine Young, Mexican Ambassador Julio and his wife Alexandra Faesler, Ms Sunita Narain of Centre for Science and Environment, Former Lt-Governor of Delhi, Mr Tejendra Khanna, Mr Frank Foster, Counselor of the US Embassy, Ms Kriste Easter, Capt. Von Millard and Elizabeth Millard from USAEP, Mr Pradip Burman of Dabur, Mr S K Mathur, former Secretary Horticulture, Rashtrapati Bhavan and others participated for this noble cause, to show their concern and care for the environment.

The Tribune, New Delhi, April 24, 2003

SC issues notice on food contamination
The Supreme Court issued notices to five ministries over pesticides contamination of food items including wheat, milk, fish, tea and edible oil. A Bench of Chief Justice V N Khare and S B Sinha issued notices to ministries of agriculture, chemical, fertilizer and petrochemicals, health and family welfare, environment and forests and food and consumer affairs. Petitioner’s counsel Colin Gonsalves said the recent study by the Centre for Science and Environment found pesticide content in many brands of bottled water in Delhi and Mumbai.

The Times of India - Delhi - April 22, 2003 - Page No : 5

ISI mark no guarantee of packaged water purity
A product with an ISI mark would assure buyers of a quality product, but not so if it is packaged drinking water (PDW). As officials in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC)’s health department recently discovered when they tested samples of PDW with an ISI mark. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) director Dr Devendra Mohan refuted the allegations and said testing methods to check the samples were flawed as they were not as per the BIS standards. There are reports from NGOs (Centre for Science and Environment) recently that the water samples they collected and tested containied arsenic, pesticides and other chemicals. But these tests are biased ones’, he claims.

The Times of India – Ahmedabad –April 15, 2003 - Page No : 3

New tools but PUC test a sham: CSE
Another deadline for that slip of paper and yellow sticker saying ‘Pollution Under Control’ (PUC) is looming ahead. The 400 test centres in Delhi have computers and web cams for automatic imaging of number plates but these are just ‘‘props’’ as the real problem remains unsolved. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in an open letter to Surface Transport Minister B.C. Khanduri says that he is holding back the state governments from implementing an effective emission programme for in-use vehicle. The present system does not work because anybody can beat the lax standards that have not been upgraded since 1992. Though the Metros have Euro II norms for vehicles at the manufacturing stage, they have the same standards for in-use vehicles in the form of PUC.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, April 09, 2003

Pollution checks bogus, says CSE
Describing the current pollution test procedures for securing Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates as a farce, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has lambasted the Union Government for failing to put in place an effective system to test polluting vehicles. At a press conference in the Capital, CSE functionaries said that the current standards and test procedures leave room for manipulation and emission. The CSE has noted that in petrol vehicles, only Carbon Monoxide (CO) is measured and that "anyone can easily adjust the air-fuel mixture to a lean range in vehicles with carburetors to lower CO emissions".
The CSE has noted that for diesel vehicles, test operators encourage drivers to accelerate gently and partially to keep smoke readings within the permitted limit.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, April 09, 2003

PUC norms cosmetic, says CSE
Addressing the urgent need to modify emission standards of vehicles and improve procedures for testing, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) targeted the Union Transport Minister at a Press conference. Terming the recently announced pollution control drive "ineffective and cosmetic", the CSE Air Pollution Unit Coordinator, Anumita Roy Chaudhary, said the PUC norms should be different for various vehicles on the basis of age and particulate emitted. Though the State Government is responsible for the implementation of the procedure, nothing will improve until the Centre, in charge of developing the technology, makes immediate changes, leaving no scope for manipulation and evasion, she said. "The current standards are not foolproof as they monitor only carbon monoxide and anyone can easily adjust the air-fuel mixture to a lean range in carburetted vehicles to lower CO emissions to pass the test. Often to manipulate low readings, the measuring probe is not inserted fully into the exhaust pipe," CSE says.

The Pioneer, New Delhi, April 09, 2003

NGO study finds pollution tests are faulty
Having a pollution under control certificate may not be a sure shot way to decrease pollution. Labelling the existing PUC norms as ineffective, the Centre for Science and Environment, an NGO, has called on the Central government to urgently review the testing procedures. Referring to the Delhi government’s recent announcement of stricter enforcement of compliance to PUC norms, the CSE has claimed that this effort will only manage to equip more than three million registered vehicles with ineffectual PUC certificates. An evaluation of the PUC testing procedures conducted by Mr Michael P. Walsh, a US-based expert and Mr Lennart Erlandsson of Motor Test Centre, Sweden, in collaboration with CSE, found the current system lacking in a big way. The study conducted by the experts found that same PUC norms are applied to different technology levels. According to the study, a simple idle test, as currently conducted, may identify malfunctioning systems in carburetted vehicles. However, newer cars with defective electronic fuel injection systems and catalytic converters that cause higher emissions are unlikely to show up in the idle test.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, April 09, 2003

PUC norms remain a ‘farce’
Nearly 10 years after the introduction of the Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate scheme in Delhi, the whole system of vehicular inspections in the Capital remains a ‘farce’ largely due to inadequate emission standards for in-use vehicles as well as ineffectual testing procedures, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said. Notwithstanding steps taken by the Delhi Government for greater compliance with the PUC certificate regime, there is, at present, an urgent need to modify emission standards of vehicles and improve procedures for testing the same in order to bring about an improvement in the city’s air quality, the CSE said in an open letter to the Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Mr B C Khanduri.

Business Line, New Delhi, April 09, 2003

Fresh water crisis to hit hard
Since times immemorial, water has sustained life. Water is what two- thirds of our planet is covered with, it constitutes 65 per cent of our bodies and it is also what states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are fighting over. The spectre of water shortage is looming large on many countries including India. On one hand, after Karnataka and Tamil Nadu it now seems to be the turn of Orissa and Chhattisgarh to fight over the waters of a river that flows through the two states. A Cauvery-like dispute has already surfaced with Chhattisgarh accusing Orissa of not releasing adequate water from Indravati, thus violating an agreement signed between the states over 20 years ago. On the other hand, we have a controversy raised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) when it accused several bottled water companies of serving packaged 'poison' to the consumer. The mess-up is in gigantic proportions. A recent media report, for example, says that a large upcoming suburb of Delhi, Dwarka, has been allowed to develop without identifying where the necessary water supply will come from. The Delhi Development Authority and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi are silent over the issue.

The Pioneer, New Delhi, April 09, 2003, Page No. 7

Railways put off water launch
The Railways have deferred the launch of their bottled water brand Rail Neer to the end of next month in order to meet the new norms for purified water. MN Chopra, managing director, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), told that the company had made an additional investment to meet the tougher European Union (EU) norms, which would satisfy the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). He said since BIS was revising its standards, the Railways’ bottled water venture was being recalibrated to meet the EU norms.

Business Standard, New Delhi, April 9,2003

Baolis can help solve water problem
The dusty pages of history might hold the answer to the Capitals water shortage. And while the High Court's recently directed the civic authorities to maintain lakes, ponds and reservoir as water bodies, traditional sources of water have been left out of its purview once again. Besides tanks, wells and baolis were good supplies of water for Delhiites for centuries and can be used as an alternative source, experts feel. "Due to depletion of the water table and construction of high rise buildings around baolis, many of them have dried up or their capacity is reduced. But they can still be put to original use as they were designed to be recharged. As people only use 1 per cent of water to drink, these baolis have tremendous potential for non-potable purposes," points out the Deputy Coordinator, Natural Resource Management Unit, Centre for Science and Environment, Eklavya Prasad.

The Hindu, New Delhi, April 07, 2003

Panel set up on bottled water norms
The government has set up a three-member core group comprising officials of the health and the consumer affairs ministries to resolve the contentious issues involved in revising the quality norms for bottled and packaged drinking water. "There is no schedule for revising the standards, but we want it to be done at the earliest. A three-member inter-ministerial core group has been formed for this purpose," an official said. He said the group was formed after detailed consultations between the secretaries of the two ministries and a directive given by Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Yadav.

Business Standard, New Delhi, April 03, 2003, Page No. 2

More poison in veggies
It’s not in just ‘palak that might be poisnous. A recent study estimates that between 50 and 70 per cent of all vegetables grown and sold in the country are contaminated with insecticide residues, some of them well-beyond permissible levels. The vegetable crop has also been found to absorb heavy metal and other contaminants from the soil, water and air. Fields on the fringes of urban areas are the worst-affected. The latest research on heavy metals by a consortium led by Imperial College, London, showed 72 per cent of Delhi’s spinach samples exceeded permissible levels for lead. Studies by government institutions and universities over four years, available with the Centre for Science and Environment.

The Times of India - Delhi - April 3, 2003

Environment, the greatest war casualty:
During the Gulf War 1, the average temperature in Bahrain dropped by seven degrees due to smoke clouds, more than 80% of Kuwait's livestock died and black snow was spotted in Gulmarg in Kashmir. This time round, while the amount of chemicals and poisonous gases being relesed into the atmosphere appears to be much more, what chaos it will cause on the environment is anybody's guess. "Burning oil wells and thick smog arising from exploding munitions will certainly take their toll on the environment. And the US' Operation Iraqi Freedom can have long-term environmental impact even on countries hundreds of miles away," says Sunita Narain, Director of the Centre for Science and Environment.

Business Line, New Delhi, April 3, 2003, Page 18

BIS not yet ready to enforce new bottled water rules
The government has drafted stringent rules on the lines of European Union norms to prevent pesticide residue in packaged drinking water by restricting individual residue to up to 0.0001 mg/litre and total pesticide residues to up to 0.0005 mg/litre. But the ministry of health & family affairs is in a dilemma over enforcing the new rules from April 1 as the implementing agency, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), is not yet fully prepared to test samples and implement new rules.

The Financial Express – Delhi – March 27, 2003 – Page No. 1

Detoxifying Mineral Water
The first week of February brought with it the outrageous news that Indian consumers — who had long been shelling out a hefty premium for bottled water they considered safer than ordinary tap water — were being taken for a ride. An expose by the Centre for Science and Environment revealed that most leading brands of bottled water available in India contained deadly pesticides, some with upto 104 times the internationally acceptable limits. The public furore that followed proved that the biggest casualty in the whole sordid saga had been public trust — both, in reputed manufacturers who had made false claims of product safety and in the regulatory body which, in its wisdom, had chosen to lay down stricter norms for ‘normal’ drinking water than for bottled water! Indeed, only in the light of the scandal did it emerge that the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) had prescribed regulations which did not permit any presence of pesticides in tap water while allowing them to be ‘below detectable limits’ in the “safer” bottled water! (Editorial).

The Financial Express – Delhi – March 27, 2003 – Page No. 6

Biseleri, 2 units stripped of ISI stgndards
Less than 24 hurs after an inquiry panel report on bottled drinking water, government revealed cancelling ISI mark licences of two units including ‘Biseleri’ for not meetign the existing quality standards. There is no question of giving clean chit to water companies, inspections continue nationwide. Krish Bottlers and Ajanta Beverages fo Rajasthan have been directed to stop using the ISI mark’, a top BIS official said.

The Financial Express – Delhi – March 27, 2003 – Page No. 14

Water row a blessing for BIS
The packaged drinking water controversy may end with a shot in the arm for an errant Bureau of Indian Standards, besides a boost for India's ancient 'Inspector Raj'. The Department of Consumer Affairs and BIS officials on Wednesday discussed plans to reinstate the 'Inspector Raj' regime in the Bureau, apparently to ensure that manufacturers comply with BIS standards long after their manufacturing plants are approved and functioning. The move will strengthen BIS' languishing enforcement wing, said official sources, arguing that the decline in quality of packaged drinking water may be a result of the Bureau's lack of teeth. "The BIS does set the standards for water quality, but over the years, it softened and simplified its quality checks. The industry and the public in a liberalising economy wanted the license and 'Inspector Raj' out. But such regular checks and enforcement drives may be necessary again," they said.

The Pioneer, New Delhi, March 27, 2003, Page 5

Quenching thirst: A roaring business
When the heat is on, quenching thirst can be a serious business in the Capital. No wonder the "get rich quick types" are busy trading the most sought after commodity in summer - bottled drinking water. Bottled water is an immediate measure to meet demand in water deficient areas in the Capital but it comes at a premium - common people generally cannot afford it. Apart from big companies like Bisleri, Bailey, Pepsico and Coca-Cola, there are other players in the market with strong regional presence. They include Yes, Paras, Hello, Fountain, Prime, Ganga, Florida, Metro, Himalayan, Golden Eagle and so on. According to sources, the total bottled market has a size of Rs 110-120 crore. "Of these, the organised sector accounts for around Rs 70 crore and the unorganised sector makes up the
rest. In the organised sector, Bisleri is the market leader with 45 per cent marketshare followed by Bailey with 23.24 per cent marketshare. Pepsico and Coca-Cola too have a marketshare in the range of 8-9 per cent each. The market has been growing at an unimaginable rate of more than 80 per cent for the past three years," said a manager with a major brand.

The Pioneer, New Delhi, March 27, 2003, Page 3

2 more water units lose licence
The government on March 26 cancelled licences of two packaged water units, including one Bisleri plant, for not meeting the existing quality standards.

Business Standard, New Delhi, March 27, 2003, Page-1

Panel pulls up BIS in pesticide in bottled water case
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will need to pull up its socks while formulating and enforcing norms for bottled water going by what a committee said in its report submitted to consumer affairs minister Sharad Yadav here on Tuesday. Yadav, on his part, told reporters that he will study the report. His ministry will then begin the process of formulating revised standards for packaged water. However, he said he could not give any time limit by which the new standards will be ready.

Times Of India – Delhi – March 26, 2003 – Page No. 10

Bottled water: Yadav performs backstroke
Contrary to the reports of the taskforce, the Union food and consumer affairs minister Sharad Yadav soft-pedalled on the issue of amending the existing Bureau Of Indian Standards (BIS) Act for ensuring transparency in the process of setting quality standards, inspection and raids.

The Financial Express – Delhi – March 26, 2003 – Page No. 14

New bottled water norms unlikely by 1 April
Bottled water standards are not likely to be revised by 1 April, as announced initially. A government committee’s inquiry report on the issue of bottled water standards, which was submitted will need to be examined in detail. The committee’s report is believed to have questioned the validity of revising standards for bottled water in the absence of ‘corresponding specific test methods’.

The Statesman – Delhi – March 26, 2003 – Page No. 6

Panel for re-examination of new safety norms for bottled water
The Inter-Ministerial Committee examining the standards of packaged drinking water has recommended a re-examination of the fresh guidelines and adequate testing of these standards before these are enforced. In effect, this will postpone the enforcement of new quality standards for bottled water till after the promised April 1, 2003 deadline. Despite the delay, Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Yadav has decided to make public the Committee's report - but after it has been "analysed" by the Government. "We will go through the report and release its findings in a day or two, or make public the findings that are most elevant," Mr Yadav said. The Committee has come down heavily on the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), recommending that the standards should be revised only after "corresponding specific test methods" have been undertaken.

The Pioneer, New Delhi, March 26, 2003, Page 4

Panel on bottled water moots norms review
The bottled water issue refuses to die down. The revision of standards for bottled drinking water is unlikely from April 1, as announced earlier, with the inquiry report on the subject submitted on Tuesday, recommending fresh guidelines to be examined in detail. The report has recommended that any revision in standards should be accompanied by "corresponding specific test methods". Since the proposed revised standards forwarded by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to the Health Ministry are vague about the test methods and thousands of representations received on the issue are yet to be examined in detail, the notification and enforcement of the new regime is expected to be delayed, top officials said. "I will study the report tonight. Work on implementation of the recommendations will begin soon, but no specific time frame can be set for revision of standards," Consumer Affairs Minister, Mr Sharad Yadav told presspersons, after receiving the report of the high-level committee.

Business Line, New Delhi, March 26, 2003, Page 3

Bottled water findings tabled before Sharad
A high-level committee set up to look into all aspects of packaged drinking water – the adequacy of of stnadards, effectiveness of testing and fixing responsibility – submitted its findings to Sharad Yadav, Ministry for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution today. However, both the Committee members and the minister refused to divulge details. It seemed certain that the revision of standards for bottled drinking water is unlikely from April 1 as announced earlier. They gave indications that while they would like the Bureau of Indian Standard to go in for stringent standards, they also want fresh guidelines to be examined in detail. The report has also recommended that any revision in standards should be accompanied by ‘‘corresponding specific test methods’’. ‘‘I will study the report tonight. But no timeframe can be set for revision of standards,’’ said Yadav.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, March 26, 2003, Page 4

Bottled water panel suggests improved tests
The experts committee that was formed to suggest how to check impurities in packaged and mineral water, on Tuesday suggested a major upgradation of existing laboratories to introduce new testing methods to check presence of pesticide residues. The committee also recommended that a core group of scientists should be formed to keep track of the latest scientific and technological development for upgrading the testing methods. Chairperson of the committee Satwant Reddy said the names of these scientists and of those who are on the quality control panels and committees should be displayed on the ministry’s website. "These scientists will have a reputation to protect. So there should be complete transparency in the quality control setup. The existing procedures of the Bureau of Indian Standards are clouded in secrecy. We need more transparency," she said.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, March 26, 2003, Page 4

BIS told to change testing process
The committee set up to look into the revision of standards for bottled drinking water submitted its final report to Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Sharad Yadav. The report said the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) should overhaul its testing process. Yadav said the new standards, based on the recommendations of the report and in the light of available international standards, would be put in place as soon as possible.

Business Standard, New Delhi, March 26, 2003, Page-3

Business Standard, New Delhi, March 26, 2003, Page-3,

Bottled water panel suggests improved tests
The experts committee that was formed to suggest how to check impurities in packaged and mineral water, on Tuesday suggested a major upgradation of existing laboratories to introduce new testing methods to check presence of pesticide residues. The committee also recommended that a core group of scientists should be formed to keep track of the latest scientific and technological development for upgrading the testing methods. Chairperson of the committee Satwant Reddy said the names of these scientists and of those who are on the quality control panels and committees should be displayed on the ministry’s website. "These scientists will have a reputation to protect. So there should be complete transparency in the quality control setup. The existing procedures of the Bureau of Indian Standards are clouded in secrecy. We need more transparency,"she said.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, March 26, 2003, Page 4

The Indian Express, New Delhi, March 26, 2003, Page 4

Business Line, New Delhi, March 26, 2003, Page 3

The Committee has come down heavily on the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), recommending that the standards should be revised only after "corresponding specific test methods" have been undertaken.

The Pioneer, New Delhi, March 26, 2003, Page 4

The Statesman – Delhi – March 26, 2003 – Page No : 6

Bottled water : Yadav performs backstroke
Contrary to the reports of the taskforce, the Union food and consumer affairs minister Sharad Yadav soft-pedalled on the issue of amending the existing Bureau Of Indian Standards (BIS) Act for ensuring transparency in the process of setting quality standards, inspection and raids.

The Financial Express – Delhi – March 26, 2003 – Page No : 14

Water, pure water
Bottled drinking water is much in the news, turning the public attention to water quality in general. The railway administration has decided to step in and provide what it says is 'pure water' to passengers, especially in major stations like Chennai Central. With about 1.25 lakh passengers using the Central station every day, it is difficult task to provide quality water for all. But the administration is now making an attempt to provide pure drinking water to passengers at an affordable price by installing an automated water vending machine.

The Hindu, Chennai, March 25, 2003, Page-2

Times Of India – Delhi – March 15, 2003 – Page No : 10

7 water units lose ISI licence
In a swoop on errant bottled drinking water manufacturers, the Government has cancelled the ISI quality mark licence of seven plants. The total number of bottled water companies facing cancellation of ISI licence has now risen to 20 in less than a month. In its latest crackdown, the BIS has imposed "stop marking" order on Avon Food and Beverages of Hyderabad, Annam Associates of Eluru and Pallavi Industries of Visakhapatnam all manufacturing Bisleri brand of drinking water.

The Hindu, New Delhi, March 15,2003, page-1,

Licences of 7 bottling units cancelled
The government cancelled the licenses of seven packaged and mineral water bottling plants, including three producing the Bisleri brand. After the Bureau of Indian Standards launched a nation wide quality inspection drive a month ago, 20 bottled water companies have lost their ISI standard licences till now. During its latest crackdown, BIS imposed the "stop marking" order on Avon food and Beverages of Hyderabad, Annam Associates of Eluru and Pallavi Industries of Vishakhapatnam, all manufacturing the Bisleri brand of drinking water, official sources said. The nationwide checks were carried out after Centre for Science and Environment brought out a report saying that most of the brands of packaged mineral water available in the country contain more than the permissible limits of pesticides.

Business Standard, New Delhi, March 15,2003, page-3,

Companies lose licences
In a swoop on errant bottled drinking water manufacturers, the government has cancelled the ISI quality mark licence of seven plants, including three producing the popular Bisleri brand. The total number of bottled water companies facing cancellation of ISI standard licence has now risen to 20 in less than a month after the Bureau of Indian Standards launched a nationwide quality inspection drive. During its latest crackdown, BIS has imposed "stop marking" order on Avon Food and Beverages of Hyderabad, Annam Associates of Eluru and Pallavi Industries of Vishakhapatnam — all manufacturing Bisleri brand drinking water, official sources said here on Friday.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, March 15, 2003, Page 3

Seven bottled water plants lose ISI licence
In a swoop on errant bottled drinking water manufacturers, the government has cancelled the ISI quality mark licence of seven plants, including three producing the popular Bisleri brand. The total number of bottled water companies facing cancellation of ISI standard licence has now risen to 20 in less than a month after the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) launched a nation-wide quality inspection drive. During its latest crackdown, BIS has imposed "stop marking" order on Avon Food and Beverages of Hyderabad, Annam Associates of Eluru and

Pallavi Industries of Vishakhapatnam — all producing Bisleri brand drinking water, official sources said here on Friday.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, March 15, 2003, Page 3

7 bottled water plants lose ISI tag
The Union Government has cancelled the ISI licence of seven more bottled water plants, including three producing the popular Bisleri brand. The total number of bottled water companies facing cancellation of the ISI standard licence has now gone up to 20 less than a month after the Bureau of Indian Standards launched a nationwide quality inspection drive. During its latest crackdown, the BIS imposed ‘‘stop-marking’’ order on Avon Food and Beverages of Hyderabad, Annam Associates of Eluru and Pallavi industries of Vishakhapatnam — all manufacturing water of the Bisleri brand.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, March 15, 2003, Page 3supp

Rail Neer awaits new BIS norms
The launch of Rail Neer the Indian Railways own brand of bottled water has hit a roadblock following the recent controversy about bottled water manufacturers not following European Union standards. Expectations of new Euro standards being announced from April1 has led to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) deferring the launch by at least a month.

The Economic Times – Delhi – March 15, 2003 – Page No : 13

Govt cancels ISI licences of seven bottled water plants
In a swoop on errant bottled dinking water manufacturers, the government has cancelled the ISI quality mark licence of seven plants, including three producing the popular Bisleri brand. The total number of bottled water companies facing cancellation of ISI standard licence has nw risen to 20 in less than a month after the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) launched a nationwide quality inspection drive.

The Economic Times – Delhi – March 15, 2003 – Page No : 11

Seven more water firms asked to bottle up
In a swoop on errant bottled drinking water manufacturers, the government has cancelled the ISI quality mark licence of seven more plants, including three producing the popular Bisleri brand. The total number of bottled water companies facing cancellation of ISI mark has now risen to 20 in less than a month after the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) launched a nation-wide quality inspection drive.

The Financial Express – Delhi – March 15, 2003 – Page No : 8

ISI mark withdrawn from 7 more plants
The Centre withdrew the ISI quality mark from seven more bottled water plants. Today’s casualties included three more plants producing the Bisleri brand though information released by the Bureau of Indian Standards suggests that these were subsidiary units. Till now 17 plants, including seven, have lost their licence to produce and market bottled water, while three others face ‘serious’ action.

The Statesman – Delhi – March 15, 2003 – Page No : 8

Amend packaged water specifications : BIS
The director General of Bureau of Indian Standards has urged the Health and Family Welfare Ministry to amend, specifications of packaged drinking and mineral water in line with the amendment carried out in BIS specifications, Rajya Sabha was informed.

The Free Press Journal – Mumbai – 11/03/03 – Page No : 3

Water samples complied with BIS specifications
The samples of packaged drinking water and mineral water collected in Delhi were found to comply with the requirements of BIS standards, Rajya Sabha was told. According to these standards, pesticide residues should be ‘below detectable limits’ when tested in accordance with the specific methods as prescribed by BIS, minister of state for home and personnel, public grievances and pensions Harin Pathak said.

The Financial Express, Delhi, March 06, 2003, Page No. 3

ISI for water bottling unit withdrawn
Continuing with its nationwide crackdown on the bottled water industry, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has withdrawn the permission to use its ISI mark from one more water bottling unit. Disclosing this, senior BIS officials said action has been taken against Varun Aqua of Delhi, as it repeatedly failed microbiological purity tests conducted by an independent agency. The raids began two weeks ago in the wake of a study by a Delhi based NGO, Centre for Science and Environment, which revealed the presence of high levels of pesticides in bottled drinking water samples collected in Delhi and Mumbai.

The Hindu, New Delhi, March 06, 2003, Page No. 13

Licence cancelled
The government on Wednesday cancelled the ISI quality licence of one more unit after conducting microbiological tests. "ISI quality mark has been been withdrawn with immediate effect from the bottled water plant of Varun Aqua Industries in Delhi`s Khanpur area,” BIS sources said. This takes the number of plants facing such action to 12 in less than a month.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, March 06, 2003, Page No. 3

'Standards not watered down'
After suffering a near 30 per cent drop in sales following an 'exposure' by a Delhi based NGO (Centre for Science and Environment) that packaged drinking water (PDW) sold in major cities contained pesticides residue, PDW makers in Tamil Nadu said their manufacturing packaging and testing standards met all Bureau of Indian Standards norms. The water sold by the manufacturers having BIS certification was tested using the latest and sophisticated methods and the samples were found to be "absolutely safe", the President of the TN PDW Manufacturers Association, K. Rajaram, and the joint secretary Vinayakmurthy told mediapersons.

The Hindu, Chennai, March 04, 2003, Page No. 4

Licences of two more water units cancelled
Tightening the noose on errant bottled and packaged drinking water companies, government canceled ISI quality licences of two more units including that of Biseleri International, Noida.

The Financial Express, Delhi, March 04, 2003, Page No. 3

Bottled water
Tightening the noose on errant bottled and packaged drinking water companies, the Government cancelled ISI quality licences of two more units including that of Bisleri International, Noida.

The Pioneer, Delhi, March 04, 2003, Page No. 1

Two more water licences cancelled
Tightening the noose on errant bottled and packaged drinking water companies, the government today cancelled ISI quality licences of two more units, including that of Bisleri International, Noida. This takes the number of plants facing such action to 11 in less than a month. Earlier inspections by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) had led to action against eight plants, including one each of Pepsi, Bisleri and Ion-Exchange, while a unit of Coca Cola was let off with a warning.

Business Standard, Delhi, March 04, 2003

Another Bisleri unit loses licence
The ISI quality licence of a second plant of Bisleri International, this one at Noida, was cancelled by the government,. The licence of a plant of Sri Agencies, Secunderbad, too was cancelled. Samples from both plants failed to meet the norms.

The Statesman, Delhi, March 04, 2003, Page No. 4

Two more bottled water units shut
Tightening the noose on errant bottled and packaged drinking water companies, the government cancelled ISI quality licences of two more units, including that of Biseleri International, Noida. This takes the number of plants facing such action to 11 in less than a month.

The Times of India, Delhi, March 04, 2003, Page No. 1

Bisleri plant’s licence cancelled
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has cancelled the licence of Bisleri's water bottling plant in Noida and that of a Secunderabad-based company. Sources said the water samples of these two companies had failed tests conducted by private accredited laboratories. The result of the water sample of the Bisleri plant at A-57, Sector 8, Noida, had shown microbial presence. The BIS had earlier cancelled the certification granted to the Bisleri plant at Devanahalli in Karnataka.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, March 04, 2003, Page No. 3

Bisleri plant’s licence cancelled
Tightening the noose on errant bottled and packaged drinking water companies, the government on Monday cancelled ISI quality licences of two more units including that of Bisleri International, Noida. This takes the number of plants facing such action to 11 in less than a month as earlier inspections by Bureau of Indian Standards had led to action against eight plants including one each of PepsiCo, Bisleri and ION-Exchange while a unit of Coca Cola was let off with a warning. "ISI quality mark has been withdrawn from the bottled water plant of Bisleri International, Noida and Sri Agencies, Secunderabad after an inspection revealed their samples are not up to the existing standards," BIS sources said.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, March 04, 2003, Page No. 3

Roadmap for environment given a miss
Neither industry nor activists are able to find any trace of a road- map for environment in Jaswant Singh’s Budget. ‘Even if he had enunciated the principle of incentivising what is environment- friendly, it would have been good’said CII’s K P Nyati, ‘Every time,’ said Sunita Narain, Centre for Science and Environment director, ‘we have to hunt between the lines to try and find some sop for the environment. There is no interest, no attempt at fiscal correction in the interests of the environment’.

Times of India, Delhi, March 03, 2003

Adulteration Act to include water purity
The Government has proposed to amend existing food adulteration laws to incorporate norms on permissible pesticide residues in packaged water, Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs Sharad Yadav said in the Rajya Sabha today. He claimed the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) had already amended standards for water purity after the controversy. He said these norms would be incorporated in the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954. This was the fourth time the issue was raised in the Upper House.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, February 28, 2003, Page No. 5

Bottled water: 'action taken against erring units'
The Government said in the Rajya Sabha that it had withdrawn the Indian Standard Institute (ISI) licence from erring units of eight mineral and bottle water manufacturers for non-compliance of current norms. Replying to a question on the issue, the Minister for Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Sharad Yadav, clarified that the ISI mark was withdrawn from only those units/factories that were found wanting. "The premises where the microbiologist or scientist were absent or where the conditions were not hygienic, were sealed after raids," he said. The Minister said the Bureau of Indian Standard, "which was high credibility", convened a seminar of scientists and experts after an NGO broke the news about high pesticide residue in bottled water, " and the experts assured us that the bottled water was consumable."

The Hindu, New Delhi, February 28, 2003, Page No. 12

Water row: panel gets two-week extension
To facilitate a more detailed analysis of the bottled water industry and pinpoint lapses in the business, the government extended the term of the probe committee by two weeks and allowed it take help of two scientists in its probe. “The committee formed on February 4 had requested for three more weeks to complete its task but consumer affairs minister Sharad Yadav has given only two weeks and the report is expected early next month,” official sources said.

The Financial Express, Delhi, February 27, 2003

Bottled water probe panel gets 2 week extension
The Government extended the term of the probe committee looking into lapses in the bottled water industry by two weeks and allowed it to take help of two scientists. “The committee formed on February 4, had sought three more weeks but Consumer Affairs Minsiter Sharad Yadav has given only two weeks and the report is expected early next month,” said Ministry sources. To get to the bottom of the technical issues, the committee has been permitted to associate two scientists of the National Physical Laboratory.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, February 27, 2003, Page No. 4

Bottled water fit for consumption Yadav
Union consumer affairs minister Sharad Yadav told Parliament the government was revising Indian standards to quantify the maximum limit for pesticide residues in packaged water. But he maintained that bottled water is fit for drinking. Laloo managed to get his point in: What about the water still in the market, the disease people must be suffering from? Will the government pay, he wanted to now.

Times of India – Delhi – February 26, 2003 – Page No. 7

Bottled water being produced is fit: Govt
The government asserted in the Rajya Sabha in the Rajya Sabha that packaged drinking water, now produced according to laid down standards, is fit for human consumption but to quantify the maximum limit for pesticide residues, quality norms would be revised in public interest.

The Financial Express – Delhi – February 26, 2003 – Page No. 3

One more errant co asked to bottle up
Tightening its noose on errant bottled water companies, government cancelled the ISI quality licence of one more unit, taking the number of plants facing such action to nine. ‘ISI quality mark has been withdrawn from the Thane-based bottled water plant of Maharashtra Manufacturing Corporation after inspection revealed its facilities are not up to the mark’, an official of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) said.

The Financial Express – Delhi – February 26, 2003 – Page No. 3

Minister allays fears on bottled water
The government today sadi existing stocks of packaged drinking water were fit for human consumption. Making a suo moto statement in Rajya Sabha, Union minister for consumer affairs Ms Sharad Yadav said these standards were being revised in consumer interest. Referring to the study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment – which had detected large amounts of pesticide residue in almost al brands of bottled warer- Mr Yadav said an emergency meeting of the committees was held on 7 February to discuss the matter.

The Statesman – Delhi – February 26, 2003 – Page No. 6

Bottled water
Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Yadav told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that packaged drinking water was fit for human consumption but to quantify the maximum limit for pesticide residues quality norms were being revised.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, February 26, 2003, Page No. 15

Water: 1 more unit loses licence
The government on Tuesday cancelled the ISI quality licence of one more unit, taking the number of bottled water plants facing such action to nine. “ISI mark has been withdrawn from the Thane-based bottled water plant of Maharashtra Manufacturing Corporation,” an official said.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, February 26, 2003, Page No. 3

Govt assures bottled water standards
After the prompt response by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to introduce more stringent BIS standards for bottled water, Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Yadav sought to quell consumer's apprehensions regarding consumption of bottled water. Mr Yadav asserted in Rajya Sabha that drinking water, packaged according to laid down standards, is fit for human consumption but to quantify the maximum limit for pesticide residues, quality norms are being revised in the interest of the consumer. He said relevant sectional committees in the Government have unanimously decided in the public interest to quantify the maximum limit for pesticide residues and make necessary amendments in the existing standards of the product. Based on the NGO study indicating the presence of pesticide residues in excess in packaged drinking water and mineral water certified by the BIS, the Government ordered an enquiry into aspects related to the issue, he added.

The Pioneer, New Delhi, February 26, 2003, Page No. 6

‘Existing norms for bottled water okay’
The Consumer Affairs Minister, Sharad Yadav asserted that there was nothing wrong with the existing standards for bottled drinking water and that products manufactured as per the standards were “entirely fit for human consumption”. In a suo moto statement in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Yadav said the standards were being revised only because they could not remain static and were open to further improvements.

The Hindu, New Delhi, February 26, 2003, Page No. 12

Government to enforce amended BIS norms
Responding to growing consumer anxiety and concern over the safety of packaged drinking water, the government has decided to enforce stringent BIS norms for the manufacture and sale of bottled water by quantifying the maximum limit for pesticide residues. In a suo moto statement in the Rajya Sabha, the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Mr Sharad Yadav, said that sectional committees concerned which met early this month to consider amendments in the BIS standards had unanimously decided in public/consumer interest to quantify the maximum limit for pesticides residues and made the necessary amendments to the two Indian standards.” Taking cognisance of news reports quoting findings of the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi based non governmental organisation, that pesticide residues were in excess in samples of the BIS-certified packaged drinking and mineral water, the government constituted an inquiry committee.

The Tribune, New Delhi, February 26, 2003, Page No. 14

Fit consumption: Government
The government asserted in the Rajya Sabha that packaged drinking water, now produced according to set standards, is fit for human consumption. However, to quantify the maximum limit for pesticide residues, quality norms are being revised in consumer interest. Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Yadav said relevant committees had unanimously decided to quantify the maximum limit for pesticide residues and make necessary amendments in the existing standards of the product.

Business Standard, New Delhi, February 26, 2003, Page No. 3

Message in a bottle
For years the state government, much like elsewhere in India, has been ignoring the issue of clean and healthy food to the people, making health for all a distant dream. There is a message in the bottles surveyed by the Centre for Science and Environment. The government needs to read it and implement measures in response. The Centre's response has so far been quick in banning these branded bottles. But one may question why for years the respective state governments and centre did not question the standards being maintained by the companies dealing with bottled water...editorial

The Kashmir Times, Jammu, February 25, 2003, Page No. 6

Probe panel to submit report soon
The government said the high-level inquiry panel probing the alleged presence of deadly pesticides in branded packaged water will soon submit its findings. "I am yet to receive the report of the four member inquiry committee but I am scheduled to make a statement in Parliament on the issue relating to quality of bottled water and action being taken by the government", Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Yadav said.

Business Standard, New Delhi, February 25, 2003, Page No. 3

And now bacteria in bottled water
If you have still not been able to digest the CSE’s pesticide study, you might find this one just a bit too hard on your system. The microbiology department of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases has revealed that the level of contamination in bottled water is not just restricted to pesticides. NICD’s tests done on bottled water meant for VVIP flights from Delhi have shown presence of microorganisms – Pseudomonas and Klebsiella – which can cause many diseases and infections including pneumonia, diarrhoea, dysentery and typhoid.

The Statesman, Delhi, February 25, 2003, Page No. 2

Zero B Claims EU standards
Ion Exchange, manufacturers of Zero B packaged drinking water, conforms to European Union standards of 0.1 ppb limit for pesticides as per test reports from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), a company spokesperson said. It may be recalled that various bottled water companies were banned by BIS from using the ISI mark included Ion Exchange.

The Financial Express – Delhi – February 24, 2003 – Page No : 4

Organic farming sees hope in ‘ troubled waters’
In the last fortnight, the country witnessed a lot of controversy over which quality standards should be followed for bottled drinking water. The government seems to be in utter confusion as the sequence of events unfolded and different government agencies making conflicting statements. Even in Parliament on February 20, Union health minister Sushma Swaraj gave conflicting views. In her statement on the floor of the Lok Sabha, the health minister said that as per the study done by a Delhi based NGO, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)
pesticide residues were found in water because of the use of more sensitive testing technology, which is a testing method more sensitive than the method prescribed by the Bureau of India Standards (BIS).

The Financial Express – Delhi – February 24, 2003 – Page No : 10

Impure water: violators go scott free
Bottled water in the Andhra Pradesh state must be the 'purest' because not a single case has ended up in conviction though the authorities have launched prosecution against more than 90 percent of the mineral water manufacturing units! In a clear reflection of the way of the Bureau of Indian standards functions, even ISI certified packaged water has been found contaminated with 364 water samples lifted during the last three years clearly not crossing the standards prescribed.

The New Indian Express, Hyderabad, February 23, 2003, Page No. 1

Deadly cocktail
Every gulp of mineral water you take could buy you death. The Pollution Monitoring Laboratory of the Centre for Science and Environment, Delhi has found that most mineral water brands in India contain residues of killer pesticides. Its scientists tested 17 major brands in Delhi and 13 in Mumbai and found unacceptable levels of lindane, DDT, malathion and chlorpyrifos in the packaged natural mineral water.

The Week, Kochi, February 23, 2003, Page No. 38

Bottled water clouds up further
For a change, instead of dousing it, water has been the cause of a fire. This water is the bottled type, meant for drinking and soon to be a Rs 1000 crore industry growing 55 per cent annually. It all started with a report of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) publishing its findings of pesticide residue levels in bottled drinking water. Some of the brands with levels exceeding safety standards included No 1 McDowell, Bisleri, Kingfisher, Hello, Kinley, and Aquafina in reducing order of residue levels.

The Financial Express – Delhi – February 23, 2003 – Page No : 2

Purita Mineral water gets ISO certification
Purita Mineral Water, an ISI certified manufacturer of "Purita" packaged drinking water based in Chennai, has received ISO certification from the British Standards Institution from the British Standards, according to a release.

The Hindu, New Delhi, February 23, 2003, Page No. 12

Mountain spring water is safe : Bhutan agro
Bhutanese suspicious of Bhutan agro’s mountain spring water following reports that popular brands of bottled water sold in India were contaminated with pesticide can be at ease. Bhutan agro industry limited, the only company producing bottled water in the kingdom, assures that ‘mountain spring water’ is safe and free from harmful chemicals.

Kuensel, Bhutan, February 22, 2003, Page No, 1

‘Bottled water in B’lore safe’:
Bangaloreans need not be skeptical about ISI certification, in the wake of the mineral water controversy, as bottled water in the city is relatively safe and pesticide-free, according a top official from the Bureau of Indian Standard’s (BIS) Bangalore office. "So far we have tested several samples in the city and never come across pesticide residues," BIS Regional Office Director P. Sengupta told this paper here on Friday. "The tests, conducted by highly reputed laboratories in the city, did not show any pesticide residue," he added. The Centre on Wednesday withdrew the ISI certification for eight firms, including the Bangalore unit of Bisleri. This followed an independent study done by the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, which exposed unacceptable levels of pesticide residues in several mineral water brands. They based their findings on the European norms as BIS did not specify exact limits to pesticide.

The New Indian Express, Bangalore, February 22, 2003, Page 1supp

Mineral water fuels public ire at Sahar:
They didn’t seem the type to frink mineral water, but these 5—60 children, young men and curious elders came together to protest the harm caused by bottled water. They had gathered at Sahar market in Andheri (E), with a pile of empty mineral water botled and cartons before them. It was soon setablaze amidst throaty slogans of ‘Jaanleva pani’.

The Indian Express – Mumbai – February 22, 2003 – Page No. 4(s)

Excuse for evasion
On the face of it, Union Health minister Sushma Swaraj's statement in the Lok Sabha on the new norms for bottled water prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards is unconvincing and does not stand the test of logic. Her reply in response to a calling attention motion that the Union Government was "not in a position to take any legal action against the manufacturers" as they had to only abide by the BIS prescription exposes the Centre's insensitivity to the problem and its utter disregard of the sentiment of the people. But for the timely study by the Centre for Science and Environment, the entire issue would have remained where it was.......Editorial

The Tribune, New Delhi, February 22, 2003, Page No. 12

Govt asked to clarify stand on water issue
With the Opposition repeatedly raising the issue of quality of mineral water in the Rajya Sabha, the Deputy Chairperson, Mr Najma Heptulla, asked the government to clarify the exact position. Several Opposition members have been charging the health and food ministries with issuing conflicting statements.

The Stateman – Delhi – February 22, 2003 – Page no : 5

Government asked to clarify position on bottled water
Elders demanded the exact position of the Government on packaged mineral and bottled water in view of the conflicting statements emerging from the Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Intervening during question hour, the Deputy Chairperson, Najma Heptullah, asked the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Vijay Goel, whether the Government would make a statement to clarify the position. The issue was raised through a special mention by Kumkum Rai (RJD), who demanded that the government come up with a water policy. Quoting from a study done by a NGO with samples of bottled water in Delhi and Mumbai, she said the bottled water contained pesticides, which were 36.4 times more than the prescribed norm in Delhi and 16.7 times more in Mumbai.

The Hindu, New Delhi, February 22, 2003, Page No. 13

'Govt stand on bottled water confusing’
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptulla said the government`s stand on the safety of bottled water was confusing. She expressed the view when Kum Kum Rai (RJD) raised the issue of the recent survey, which found the bottled water in Delhi and Mumbai with chemical content, much above the permissible limits. Several members were agitated and wanted the government to make a statement.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, February 22, 2003, Page 6

India cracks down on bottled water companies
The government has stopped verifying the quality of some of India’s most popular brands of bottled water, and may close some plants, after high levels of pesticide were found in samples, a Consumer Affairs Ministry official said.

The Kathmandu Post, Kathmandu, February 21, 2003, Page No. 8

Raids on bottled water plants to continue:
An Indian agency responsible for quality control inspected bottled water plants across the country after surprise raids led to the withdrawal of quality certification of 10 major companies. Officials of the Bureau of Indian Standards said that there was no let up in the inspections following complaints that the water sold by several of the plants was unfit for human consumption. The ministry of consumer affairs was forced to swing into action following revelations by a leading NGO, Centre for Science and Environment, that the branded bottled water sold in the Capital and Mumbai contained pesticides residues much above levels permitted by the European Union and the U.S.

Central Chronicle, Bhopal, February 21, 2003, Page No. 13

Bisleri puts lid on production in city:
A day after the Centre cracked down on eight mineral water units for failing to meet Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications, and barred them from using the ISI mark, the Bangalore unit of Bisleri has stopped production and sent water samples for examination. "We have stopped production in the Bangalore unit and water sample has been sent for examination," said a Bisleri official. Asked about high concentration of pesticides in bottled water, all the official said was results of samples sent for tests would be available soon. The Bangalore City Corporation (BCC), meanwhile, seems clueless on what stand to adopt vis-a-vis the Bisleri bottles that have already hit the shelves. "So far we have not got any official communication. We will take necessary action in that regard after we get the communication," said BCC Special Commissioner I N S Prasad.

The New Indian Express, Bangalore, February 21, 2003, Page 1supp

Draft notification for revised bottled water norms issued:
Amidst raging controversy over the quality of bottled water, Government has formulated stringent standards proposed to be enforced from April 1 this year, Health Minsiter Sushma Swaraj, annoucned in the Lok Sabha today. Based on the recommendatios of the BIS, a draft notification prepared for this purpose has been circulated for public comments before carrying out the necessary amendments in the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, Swaraj said in a statement to a calling attention motion on detection of harmful pesticides in bottled water.

The Sentinel, Guwahati, February 21, 2003, Page No. 5

New law for stricter safety standards of bottled water:
Appropriate amendments will be made in the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules after finalising changes of standards of packaged drinking water and mineral water as recommended by the BIS, Health and Family Welfare Minster Sushma Swaraj told the Lok Sabha today. The draft notification prescribing the maximum limit of pesticide residues in bottled water has been issued inviting comments from the public, she said responding to a calling attention notice given by Mr Naresh Puglia (Cong), Mr Ramjiwan Singh (BJP) and Mr GM Banatwala (IUML).

Deccan Herald, Bangalore, February 21, 2003, Page No. 7

Bottled water companies meeting BIS standards, method:
Sushma
Government ruled out any action against companies marketing bottled drinking water saying they were meeting the standards and the method prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The water meets the method and the standard of the BIS and, therefore, there is no question of taking action’, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sushma Swaraj said.

The Free Press Journal – Mumbai – February 21, 2003 – Page No. 3

Opposition for probe into mineral water issue:
The bottled water controversy had its echo in the Rajya Sabha with opposition members demanding an inquiry and a statement from the government on the issue. Raising the issue during zero hour, Congress member Suresh Pachouri regretted that conflicting versions were being provided by the health and food ministries and government should clarify the exact position by making a statement.

Newstime, Hyderabad, 21, 2003, Page No. 6

Sushma in water safety pledge:
Union health minister Sushma Swaraj said her ministry would monitor enforcement of the new safety standards for bottled drinking water which will come into effect from April 1. According to a report recently brought out by the Centre for Science and Environment, pesticide residue has been found in several brands of bottled drinking water.

The Telegraph, Calcutta, February 21, 2003, Page No. 8

Bottled water row gets murkier:
There is some more confusion that has been added to the already confused state of affairs in the bottled water controversy. Though it was announced that stringent norms would be enforced from April 1, much of the confusion was allowed to remain. The impression given was that Minister of Consumer Affairs Sharad Yadav had cracked down on the bottled water manufacturers by withdrawing ISI mark from 8 units, including Bisleri and Pepsico’s Aquafina. The fact of the matter is that the action was taken as a matter of routine by the BIS before the Centre for Science and Environment released its report that bottled water contained 20 deadly pesticides in 18 brands they had tested.

The New Indian Express, Hyderabad, February 21, 2003, Page No. 7

Troubled water : Govt issues draft amendments to PFA rules
A draft notification on the proposed amendments in standards for packaged drinking water and mineral water under the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Rules, 1995 has been issued for public comments.

The Financial Express – Delhi – February 21, 2003 – Page No : 14

Wading in bottled water
Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink? Amidst conflicting claims over the quality of bottled water in the backdrop of the current controversy over contamination, don’t blame the consumer if he thinks twice before picking up that bottle off the shelf, irrespective of the brand.

The Financial Express – Delhi – February 21, 2003 – Page No : 1

Move to modify PFA norms
Even as a pall of doubt has been cast upon the bottled water players in the country due to reports of substandard product quality, the government proposes to modify the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules to incorporate more stringent quality norms for the industry.

The Economic Times – Delhi – February 21, 2003 – Page No : 8

Bottled water can’t be destroyed: Sushma
The government expressed its inability to take action against the bottling plants of various brands of bottled water by confiscating the stocks and destroying them. Mrs Sushma Swaraj said in the Lok Sabha that under the existing norms laid down by the Bureau of Indian Standards, the level of pesticide residues by the Standard of ‘below detectable limit’ was found to be all right.

The statesman- Delhi – February 21, 2003 – Page No : 4

Water firms fail old BIS
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which recently adopted stricter norms for packaged drinking water, is now conducting tests to see if bottling tests to see if bottling companies are meeting the old norms. Since it has collected about 500 samples from 70 units all over the country and tests the facilities there.

Times of India – Delhi – February 21, 2003 – Page No : 2

Bottled water forms meeting BIS norms
The controversy over bottled drinking water took a new turn with the Union Health Minister, Sushma Swaraj, stating that it was not possible to take legal action against companies marketing bottled drinking water, as they were meeting the standards as per the method prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards. Responding to a calling attention motion in the Lok Sabha, she said that even though pesticide residues were found during a study conducted by an NGO, Centre for Science and Environment, this was only because the testing method adopted by it was more sensitive than the technique prescribed by BIS. But the manufacturers had to only abide by the BIS prescription and samples of water analysed as per BIS methods were found to comply with the requirements.

The Hindu, New Delhi, February 21, 20023, Page-13

Tougher norms for bottled water makers from April 1
Bottled water manufacturers are likely to face more stringent quality standards from April 1. Health and family welfare minister, Sushma Swaraj has said that based on the recommendations of the Bureau of Indian Standards, the government has formulated stringent quality standards which the ministry proposes to enforce from April 1. In her statement to a calling attention motion on detection of harmful pesticides in bottled water in the Lok Sabha, Ms Swaraj said that a draft notification on the proposed standards has been circulated for public comments before initiating the required amendments in the prevention of food adulteration rules.

The government’s decision to bring in more stringent measures for bottled water follows the revelations made by Centre for Science and Environment study, which detected harmful pesticides way above permissible limits in several renowned bottled water brands.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, February 21, 2003, Page 3

'Water companies meeting BIS norms'
The Government today ruled out any action against companies marketing bottled drinking water saying that they were meeting the standards and the method prescribed by the BIS. "The water meets the method and the standard of the BIS and, therefore, there is no question of taking action," the Health and Family Welfare Minister, Ms Sushma Swaraj, told the Lok Sabha while responding to a calling attention motion raise by Mr Naresh Puglia (Cong) and two others.

Business Line, New Delhi, February 21, 2003, Page 5

The bottled water saga — A tale of 2 norms, 3 ministries,1 NGO
From Bailley in Maharashtra, Green Valley in Kerala or Team in Tamil Nadu to national players like Bisleri, Aquafina and Kinley -the fate of all players in the Rs 1,000-crore packaged wate rindustry seems to be bottling down to a tale of two norms, three ministries and one non-government organisation (NGO)! The segment has not seen a dull moment ever since the Centre for Science and Environment, an NGO, stirred a hornet's nest with its report on pesticide-residue indicting bottled-water brands across the board. What ensued was a plethora of statements and activity from three different ministries - Consumer Affairs, Health and Food Processing - and the net result has certainly not been more clarity, observes industry.

Business Line, New Delhi, February 21, 2003, Page 1

Centre for tough bottled water norms
The Central Government will notify further stringent standards for bottled water after those prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards was found wanting in specifying pesticides content in water. A statement to the effect was made by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Sushma Swaraj in Parliament on Thursday. "Pesticide residue was found in water (samples) because of use of more sensitive testing methodology (used by the independent study). That is a testing method more sensitive than the method prescribed by BIS," Ms Swaraj said. The BIS has proposed revising the method of analysis using internationally established test methods for detecting pesticides residue in bottled water, which will come into effect next month.

The Pioneer, New Delhi, February 21, 2003, Page 1

Bottled Water
Amidst raging controversy over the quality of bottled water, the Government has formulated stringent standards proposed to be enforced from April 1 this year, Health Minister Sushma Swaraj announced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. Based on the recommendations of the Bureau of Indian Standards, a draft notification prepared for this purpose has been circulated for public comments before carrying out the necessary amendments in the prevention of food adulteration rules, Ms Swaraj said.

The Pioneer, New Delhi, February 21, 2003, Page 1

Bottled water row gets murkier
There is some more confusion that has been added to the already confused state of affairs in the bottled water controversy. The impression given yesterday was that Minister of Consumer Affairs Sharad Yadav had cracked down on the bottled water manufacturers by withdrawing ISI mark from 8 units, including Bisleri and Pepsico’s Aquafina. The fact is that the action was taken as a matter of routine by the BIS before the Centre of Science and Environment released its report that bottled water contained 20 deadly pesticides in 18 brands they had tested.
Yadav’s office clarified: ‘‘The Minister had asked the BIS to take action nation-wide.’’ On the other hand, the BIS feigns ignorance saying that they had only given a list to the minister of the units sealed by them in the past that were not complying with their norms.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, February 21, 2003, Page 4

Firms play down BIS action
Even as the Bureau of Indian Standards said that it had withdrawn the ISI certification from certain water bottling plants, the companies in question denied that were any quality issues behind the move. For instance, Pepsi Foods, which retails its water under the Aquafina brand, said the BIS had been asked to stop using the ISI mark temporarily, until the company clarifies why it started production before certification from the BIS. "This is a procedural matter and has nothing to do with quality. We were conducting trial runs tests to ascertain product quality as out internal parameters dictate that three trials have to be conducted before commercial production commences", said a company statement.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, February 21, 2003, Page 19

New standards for bottled water to be enforced from April 1
The government has formulated new, more stringent standards for bottled water which are likely to be enforced from April 1. A draft notification on the new standards is being circulated to invite comments before the necessary amendments are made to the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules. Announcing this in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Health Minister Sushma Swaraj, however, ruled out action against the companies currently marketing bottled water. She said, despite the high amounts of pesticide found in the tests run by the Centre for Science and Environment, the companies were meeting standards laid down by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), so they could not be penalised.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, February 21, 2003, Page 1

Govt. withdraws ISI licence of Bisleri:
In the face of controversy over high concentrations of pesticides in bottled water, Government has barred eight units including Bangalore operations of Bisleri International and Pepsico India holding’s baruch plant from using ISI mark. The crackdown on bottled drinking water companies comes within a month of an independent study revealing that most mineral water sold in India had very high level of pesticide residues and was not in conformity with the European norms.

The Sentinel, Guwahati, February 20, 2003, Page No. 7

ISI mark withdrawn:
NEW DELHI, Feb 19 – Government has withdrawn ISI quality mark for bottled water of eight companies including Bisleri’s Bangalore plant and Pepsico’s Bharuch factory in Gujarat in the wake of a storm over reported high concentration of pesticides in bottled water.

The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, February 20, 2003, Page No. 1

ISI mark for Bisleri, Pepsi water withdrawn:
Government has withdrawn ISI quality mark for bottled water produced at Bisleri’s Bangalore plant and Pepsico’s Bharuch factory in Gujarat in the wake of a storm over reported high concentration of pesticides in bottled water. The drive against bottled drinking water companies through countrywide inspections comes less than a month of startling findings by an independent study showing that a bulk of the mineral water sold in India had very high levels of pesticide residues and it was not in conformity with the European norms.

Newstime, Hyderabad, February 20, 2003, Page No. 1

Pesticide stick for water units:
The government has withdrawn the ISI quality mark for bottled water produced at Bisleri’s Bangalore plant and Pepsico’s Bharuch factory in Gujarat in the wake of reports of high concentration of pesticides in the water. The drive against bottled water companies, through country wide inspections, comes in less than a month of the findings by an independent study showing that the bulk of mineral water sold in India has very high levels of pesticide residue which is not in conformity with European norms.

The Telegraph, Calcutta, February 20, 2003, Page No. 8

8 bottled water firms lose ISI tag
The Central government today withdrew ISI licences for eight bottled water manufacturing plants including Bisleri’s Bangalore unit and Bharuch plant of Pepsico India Holdings. The stern action comes in the wake of independent investigations conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) which found deadly pesticides in most of the bottled water samples. Following this, Union Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Yadav had ordered a high-level inquiry to look into the adequacy of standards for packaged drinking water and natural mineral water, besides probing whether the standards are being properly enforced by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

Deccan Herald, Bangalore, February 20, 2003, Page 1

ISI mark for 8 bottled water plants withdrawn:
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has withdrawn the ISI quality mark for mineral water produced at Bisleri’s Bangalore plant and Pepsico’s Bharuch factory in Gujarat and six other bottled water manufacturers in the wake of a storm over reported high concentration of pesticides in bottled water.Minister for food Sharad Yadav said, “We will not compromise on health and hygiene aspects of bottled water and the enforcement will be more rigorous in the future.”

The Financial Express, Delhi, February 20, 2003, Page No. 1

BIS cracks down on 8 bottled water units:
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has suspended the licences of eight packaged drinking water bottling plants run by some of the top companies. The ISI marked granted by BIS was withdrawn after it was discovered that these units were not conforming to the existing norms for producing safe water. These units are- the Banglore operatins of Bisleri International ; Pepsico India Holding’s Bharuch plant; Kothari Beverages, Thane; Ion Exchange, New Mumbai; Vaishali Mineral Water, Hazipur,and Surat Beverages, Dadra.

The Time of India, Delhi, February 20, 2003, Page No. 1

Eight bottled water firms lose ISI mark:
The government withdrew ISI mark from eight brands of bottled water manufactured by eight companies including Bisleri International and Pepsico India Holdings. The company manufacturing plans identified for this purpose by the Bureau of Indian Standards are (company name, plant location) Kothari Beverages, Thane: Ion Exchange, New Mumbai : PepsiCo India Holding, Bharuch : Bisleri International Banglore; Viabhav Aqua, Mumbai: Sardul Mineral Water and Dosa, Jamshedpur: Baishali Mineral Water and Soda, Jamshedpur: Vaishali Mineral Water, Hazipur, and Surat Beverages, Dadra.

The Statesman, Delhi, February 20, 2003, Page No. 1

Bottled up:
Leading bottlers including Pepsi and Coke asserted that they was complying with all the norms in India. Pepsico spokesperson said that ‘water line in the Bharuch factory is very new and was in fact scheduled to receive its approval for staring operations last week’, Asked about the warning issued to Coke’s Kheda (Gujarat) plant, Coca-Cola India vice-president (External) Sunil Gupta said ‘We are not aware of any such notice’.

The Statesman, Delhi, February 20, 2003, Page No. 4

On the waterfront : Top labels stripped of ISI tag:
Keen to prove that it means business on the mineral water front, the government cracked down on individual units of several top bottled and mineral water companies by pulling out the ISI quality marking and issuing stern warning letters. The action was taken on the basis of raids conducted by various regional arms of the Bureau of Industrial standards (BIS).

The Economic Times, Delhi, February 20, 2003, Page No. 1

Eight bottled water units lose ISI mark:
The Bureau of Indian Standards on Wednesday withdrew the ISI certification for eight bottled water plants after nationwide raids. These included plants owned by Bisleri International and Pepsico India which sell the Kinley, Bisleri and Aquafina brands respectively. Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Yadav ordered the raids. Bisleri’s Ramesh Chauhan said the news was not correct. A spokesperson for Ion Exchange also denied having received any order. He also said there had been no raid on their plants.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, February 20, 2003, Page No. 1

Who will test the water? Forget BIS:
When Parliament discusses the bottled water controversy in this session, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will have a lot to answer for. First and foremost, it will have to explain how it proposes to enforce European Economic Commission (EEC) standards when its own laboratories do not have the equipment to test for these! Going by the way BIS has reacted after Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released its report that 17 samples had a deadly cocktail of 20 pesticides, it seems people will continue to consume these inspite of BIS claims that it is notifying the world’s best standards. The condition of the BIS laboratories and its bureaucratic and casual approach to its job totally negates the objective for which it was set up.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, February 20, 2003, Page No. 1

8 water units’ ISI lincense withdrawn:
In the face of controversy over high concentration of pesticides in bottled water, the government has barred eight units, including the Bangalore operations of Bisleri and PepsiCo India Holding’s Baruch plant, from using the ISI mark. The direction came from consumer affairs minister Sharad Yadav for not meeting Bureau of Indian Standards norms.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, February 20, 2003, Page No. 1

Govt acts tough on water pesticide issue:
Even as the Union Health Ministry finalises the revised parameters for the packaged water industry, the Union Consumer Affairs Ministry has sprung a surprise. According to Consumer Affairs Ministry representatives, the Government has either withdrawn the ISI certification or cautioned eight locations where water was being packaged by different companies. These include Kothari Beverages, Thane; Ion Exchange, Navi Mumbai; PepsiCo India Holding, Bharuch; Bisleri International, Bangalore; Vaibhav Aqua, Mumbai; Sardul Mineral Water and Soda, Jamshedpur; Vaishali Mineral Water, Hazipur, and Surat Beverages, Dadra. "Warning letters" had been issued against Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, Khera plant, the official said.

Business Line, New Delhi, February 20, 2003, Page No. 1

`NOC from Centre, State Govts must':
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry is set to make it mandatory for bottled water companies to procure a no objection certificate (NOC) from Central and State Government authorities, with regard to their source of water. This was said by Ms Sushma Swaraj, in a written response to a query raised in Parliament today. Ministry sources told Business Line that though this requirement had been in existence, it was not mandatory. In the light of the pesticide controversy, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) had recommended that an NOC from ground water authorities be made mandatory.

Business Line, New Delhi, February 20, 2003, Page No. 1

8 packaged water plants lose ISI stamp:
Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Yadav withdrew the ISI certification of eight bottling units, including the Bangalore unit of Bisleri International and PepsiCo India Holdings Bharuch plant, for failing to meet production norms specified by the Bureau of Indian Standards. Companies are not allowed to sell packaged water without the ISI mark. The ministry also issued a warning letter to two units the Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages plant at Khera and the Surbhi Milk Food plant at Kalol. The move comes within a fortnight of a report published by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which found most packaged water brands in the country contained pesticides above the permissible European limits.

Business Standard, New Delhi, February 20, 2003, Page No. 1

Bottled water:
The controversy over the presence of pesticides in bottled water has had a fallout in eight companies including PepsiCo India Holding’s Bharuch unit and Bangalore operations of Bisleri International, with the government directing them not to use the ISI mark, making it virtually impossible for them to operate in India. The direction was given by Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Yadav on the grounds that the water brands of these companies did not meet norms set by the Bureau of Indian Standards, an official source told.

The Tribune, New Delhi, February 20, 2003, Page No. 1

Bar on 6 bottling units using ISI mark:
In a major crackdown on the bottled drinking water industry, food and Consumer Affairs Minister, Sharad Yadav, ordered the immediate enforcement action against one bottling plant and withdrawal of the permission to use ISI mark from six others on the ground that they were not meeting the quality and other norms set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). While enforcement action has been ordered against Pepsico India Holding, Bharuch, the units debarred from using the ISI mark include Bisleri International, Bangalore, and Ion Exchange, Navi Mumbai. The other four plants from which the permission to use ISI mark have been withdrawn are: Vaibhav Aqua, Ghatkopar, Mumbai, Kothari Beverages, Shahpur, Thane, Surat Beverages, Dadra, and Sardul Mineral Water and Soda Private Limited, Jamshedpur. The action follows nation wide raids conducted in the wake of a study by the Delhi based NGO, Centre for Science and Environment, which revealed the presence of high levels of pesticides in bottled drinking water samples collected from Delhi and Mumbai.

The Hindu, New Delhi, February 20, 2003, Page No. 13

Beyond the bottled water expose:
Though the Centre for Science and Environment’s findings on presence of pesticide residue in bottled water have evoked sharp reactions from several quarters, essentially it ought to serve as a wake up call to swing the regulatory authorities into action. Even as contamination of drinking water is nothing new, a major handicap is that there are no government laboratories for testing water samples.

Newstime, Hyderabad, February 19, 2003, Page No. 8

Corporation, government agencies lack testing facilities:
The controversy over the high incidence of residual pesticide in bottled drinking water does not seem to have any ripple effect in the Chennai city, where the testing facilities available at Chennai Corporation and other agencies are a far cry from what is needed. The public analyst lab of the Chennai Corporation at Ripon Buildings is a study in contrast to what it promotes. The building is in a dilapidated condition and is in urgent need of repairs. The Water Testing Wing of the lab has been rendered unusable for more than three years now due to neglect and lack of infrastructure development.

The Hindu, Chennai, February 19, 2003, Page No. 3

Bottled water sale sinks 20 per cent:
After the recent reports about the presence of pesticide residuals in bottled water of major brands, the demand for bottled water has come down by over 20 per cent over the past few days. According to officials in the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) regional office in Chandigarh, the samples of all major brands have been collected from the region, after the report of pesticide residues in 17 leading brands in Delhi beyond the permissible limit. The BIS has decided to implement the revised norms with effect from April 1.

The Tribune, New Delhi, February 19, 2003, Page No. 15

Railneer goes off-track:
Back to square one. For the Union Railway ministry, it’s now time to bottle up Railneer - its own versin of packaged drinking water – and temporarily shut down the floodgates of its manufacturing unit at Banglio. ‘Kyunki, following the findings of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) study which reveals the presence of pesticides in bottled water retailed by big brands, and the subsequent decision of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to test bottled water as per European Union (EU) norms the bottled water already manufactured by the Railway will now be required to meet more stringent standards.

The Times of India, Delhi, February 19, 2003, Page No. 1(s)

Water and the foreign matter:
Why do people all over the world go for branded soft drinks? Because, it’s a fad. Why do our people go for bottled mineral water? Because they think they are drinking the purest of pure water as in the developed world. But the recent findings fly in the face of that belief. In fact, bottled mineral water has become such big business that all the sundry have entered the Rs 500 crore free-for-all market and there is no guarantee on purity. An ISI mark alone is not proof that the bottled water you drink is safe.

The New Indian Express, Chennai, February 18, 2003, Page No. 11

Water and the foreign matter:
Why do people all over the world go for branded soft drinks? Why do our people go for bottled mineral water? Because they think they are drinking the purest of pure water as in the developed world. But recent findings fly in the face of that belief. In fact, bottled mineral water has become such big business that all and sundry have entered the Rs 500 crore free-for-all market and there is no guarantee on purity. An ISI mark aloen is not proof that the bottled water you drink is safe. Instead you get pesticides residue which is not exactly fit for human consumption.

The New Indian Express, Bangalore, February 18, 2003, Page No. 11

Shakeout likely in bottled water industry:
The process of revising the quality norms for bottled drinking water could lead to a shakeout in the industry as many of the 782 companies might not be able to upgrade their standards and find themselves out of business, much to the benefit of MNCs. The government officials said the assessment was that cleaning and testing facilities required to conform to the new norms would be a capital intensive and time-consuming exercise that a number of companies would not be able to undertaken immediately. New standards will be applicable from the moment Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Rules are amended but many companies may not be in a position to “immediately” adhere to these norms.

Deccan Herald, Bangalore, February 18, 2003, Page No. 13

‘Ban plastic during polls’:
Voicing concern over the indiscriminate use of plastics during elections, two environmental groups asked the Election Commission to impose a ban on their use in campaigning. “We have seen an increasing use of plastics like flags, plastic buntings and campaigning material, by various political parties during elections since the past few years”, said the NGOs ‘Chintan’ and Centre for Science and Environment in a memorandum to Chief Election Commissioner J.M. Lyngdoh.

The Hindu, New Delhi, February 18, 2003

New bottled water norms may hit smaller players:
With the government moving full steam on revising norms for bottled water industry apprehensions are that new, stricter standards may force a lot of smaller players out of the field. Senior officials in the ministry of consumer affairs believe that many of the 700-odd firms which produce packaged water and packaged mineral water may not be able to upgrade infrastructure to conform to the new standards.

The Statesman, Delhi, February 18, 2003, Page No. 5

Bottling firms ignore govt notification:
A government notification asking the units of packaged drinking water to get themselves registered with the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) appears to have evoked little response. Three years since the notification was first issued in February 2000, only about 250 of the estimated thousands of bottling water units that depend solely or largely on groundwater in the country have submitted their details to the CGWA. In Delhi, for instance, apart from the 40-odd Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) licence-holders, there are several others who draw the groundwater for filling up their bottles. "But only 26 units have furnished their details to us," a source said.

The Times of India, Delhi, February 18, 2003, Page No. 5

Watchdogs And Bloodhounds:
The sordid saga of pesticide-contaminated bottled water may now be winding down to a close in so far as new quality norms are concerned. Bowing to public pressure, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has taken the welcome decision to upgrade its norms to match the stringent ones of the European Union. Also on its way out is the farcical packed column test, to be replaced by a more useful one. We do hope that the above is a harbinger to lasting qualitative improvement, instead of being merely a short-lived, public outcry-engendered rearguard action.(Editorial)

The Financial Express, Delhi, February 18, 2003, Page No. 6

Trusting every drop of water:
That catch-line of a commercial for Coca-Cola’s Kinley bottled water ‘Boondh, Boondh Mein Vishwas’ menas that ‘you can trust every drop’. Considering that a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) done earlier this month found that bottle of Kinely in Delhi contained almost 15 times the level of pesticides considered to be safe in the European Union (EU), Coca-Cola is certainly asking me to make a leap of faith. The day after the CSE released its report, a belligerent Ramesh Chauhan- whose Bisleri was found to have pesticide concentration levels 79 times higher than the EU standard –told me that he didn’t believe that the CSE had tested his water, implying it may have tested a fake or that it had other motives.

The Financial Express, Delhi, February 18, 2003, Page No. 6

The cycle of poison :
Sunita Narain
After the release of our study on pesticide residues in bottled water, an experienced science journalist called to recheck something that was bothering him: was it really true that the government had not laid down quantified standards for pesticide residues in drinking water, let alone packaged drinking water, he kept asking. Clearly, he was used to hearing from the pompous and bombastic science establishment of our country. It was true. And shameful. What shocked us was not that we found high levels of pesticide residues in bottled water, but that the toxic and deadly residues were legal — blessed by the incompetent and indifferent regulator.

Business standard, Delhi, February 18, 2003, Page No. 6

Water woes leave consumers happy, industry smarting:
Consumers can take heart that the big daddies of the bottled water industry are reaching out to allay their fears by producing reports to endorse the quality of their water. What's more, a price increase may not be on the cards even as the companies are asked to adhere to a revised set of standards on pesticide residue. However, the Rs 1,000-crore packaged water industry is smarting from the whole fiasco and has urged the Government to take a scientific approach to address the controversy, rather than respond in a knee-jerk fashion. The controversy broke out with the Centre for Science and Environment report on February 4, which stated that most bottled water products contained pesticide residue. After a fortnight of flip-flop decisions, late last week, the Union Health Ministry gave its stamp of approval to the pesticide limits arrived upon by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

Business Line, New Delhi, February 18, 2003, Page No. 5

Packaged poison:
Food safety and consumer health issues have moved a long way in the last few years, only in the reverse direction it seems. Not long ago one could drink water straight from the tap in cities like Mumbai; but no longer. Even bottled water — for which one pays a not so inconsiderable price — has, it transpires from a survey by an NGO Centre for Science and Environment, now become unsafe to drink with the presence of pesticide residues. The finding should come as no surprise because our food laws are antiquated and, worse, the implementation is tardy. Ironically, until a couple of years ago, packaged drinking water, not classified as food, was out of the purview of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 and rules thereunder…editorial

Business Line, New Delhi, February 18, 2003, Page No. 8

Upgrade quality system, water companies told:
Amidst raging controversy over quality, the bottled water companies have been warned they will be debarred from selling their products if they do not upgrade their standards in line with the revised norms. The Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) rules are being amended for this purpose and all 782 companies manufacturing bottled water will have to upgrade their standards without any time lag.

Herald, Panjim, February 17, 2003, Page No. 1

Pesticide- free bottled water must from April 1:
Swaraj
Packaged drinking water manufacturers will need to ensure pesticide-free water from April 1 as the government has decided to impose the stringent European Union standards for testing, Union health minister Sushma Swaraj said.

The Times of India, Mumbai, February 17, 2003, Page No. 9

Andhra begins drive against 'mineral' water:
The Andhra Pradesh Government is finally moving to check the sale of contaminated bottled water. The department has initiated prosecution against 328 vendors and manufacturers. Against 595 samples sent for analysis, as many as 366 were found adulterated. According to Health Minister K Sivaprasada Rao, 126 samples were drawan in 2002 and it was foudn that 59 were adulterated or of substandard quality.

The New Indian Express, Bangalore, February 17, 2003, Page No. 8

Water firms told to follow new norms:
Amid the raging controversy over quality, bottled water companies have been warned they will be debarred from selling their products if they do not upgrade their standards in line with the revised norms. The Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) rules are being amended for this purpose and all 782 companies manufacturing bottled water will have to upgrade their standards without any time lag. “The legal position is very clear on the issue, the moment the PFA Rules are amended, the revised drinking water standards will come into effect,” official sources told PTI, asking the companies to set up necessary infrastructure to ensure they are not caught napping.

Deccan Herald, Bangalore, February 17, 2003, Page No. 11

Mira gets ISO certificate:
Mira Model School has become the first school to get an ISO 9001-02 and ISO 14001-1996 Environment Management System certificate. Registro Italiano Navale India Private Ltd, an Italian Company, certified the school after a series of audits. Having committed to being an eco friendly school and becoming a pilot project for the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the school has also set up water harvest system and a compost plant.

The Tribune, New Delhi, February 17, 2003

Not a drop to drink: Who’s to blame?:
Sunlight is not yet commercialised, to be sold only by licensed companies. Air, too, can be breathed without charge as of now. But water has gone the other way — and thereby hangs the story of another national shame. Noticed those shining mineral-water bottles on conference tables graced by the Prime Minister and others? The brand names are prominently displayed, giving the product glamour value as well as credibility. That credibility has disappeared overnight. It now seems that packaged water has pesticide residues beyond all safety limits. We are a country, in the fifty-sixth year of our glorious independence, that has failed to ensure that most fundamental necessity of citizens — safe drinking water. Safety of water — and food — can be ensured only by formulating safety standards. The Health Ministry has all the powers to do so and to make such safety standards mandatory. But its interest seems to be to dispense favours to lobbies — for obvious reasons — rather than to ensure the health and safety of the citizens. Only in India can this happen. Only Indian bureaucrats and politicians can be so cynical. To our lasting shame.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, February 17, 2003, Page No. 9

Aquafina meets EU norms:
PepsiCo:
With the image of bottled water taking a beating in the past week, Pepsico India has clarified that their product Aquafina meets stringent EU norms. A Pepsi spokesperson said that the company did not want their product to be clubbed along with the "rest of the pack." To that effect, Pepsico has conducted tests on Aquafina through an independent laboratory, VIMTA on bottles. A Pepsico release states that the results show that Aquafina meets the most stringent EU norms for permissible amounts of pesticides in water.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, February 17, 2003, Page No. 19

Bottled water firms warned:
Amidst raging controversy over quantity, the bottled water companies have been warned, that they will be debarred from selling their products if they do not upgrade their standards in line with the revised norms. The Prevention of Food adulteration rules are being attended for this purpose and all 782 companies manufacturing bottled water will have to upgrade their standards without any time lag. “Legal position is very clear on the issue, the moment PFA rules are amended, the revised drinking water standards will come into effect,” official sources said, asking the companies to set up necessary infrastructure to ensure that they are not caught napping.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, February 17, 2003, Page No. 15

BIS in deep water over safety norms:
The Bureau of Indian Standards has not arrived at a conclusion as to what its standards should be, regarding packaged drinking water. Initially announcing that it will follow the European Union norms, it has now decided to follow the World Health Organisation norms. The Bureau of Indian Standards also claims Indian packaged drinking water is “safe” as it meets the WHO guidelines. The Centre for Science and Environment, however, stated this to be “frightening” because WHO norms are inadequate. It also asked for stringent norms for manufacturing and packaging of bottled water. Senior CSE official Chitra Gopalakrishnan said that in a technical seminar of “scientists” on February 13, BIS declared Indian bottled water to be “safe for human consumption,” dismissing the need for more stringent norms as “impractical and expensive.”

The Asian Age, Mumbai, February 17, 2003

‘Aquafina meets EU norms’:
Pepsi Foods said that its bottled water brand Aquafina, ,meets the European Union standards for residual pesticides. “Results of the available current tests as per the most stringent European norms and methodologies clearly show that Aquafina meets the EU permissible individual pesticide norms of 0.1 parts per billion or 0.0001 milligram/litre and total permissible pesticide level of 0.5 ppb or 0.0005 mg/l,” a company release said. It added that results from one location was awaited. The company said it will deliver safe bottled water to consumers. The Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi based NGO, had recently said report saying that some bottled water brands did not meet the prescribed EU norms.

Business Standard, New Delhi, February 17, 2003, Page No. 6

Review standards for consumer safety:
First comes the results of tests on bottled water conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), showing pesticide residues and the comment of the CSE Director that “The BIS norms are ambiguous, weak, and formulated in such a manner that pesticide residues will remain undetected even when they exist in water samples”.Next, the Minister for Science and Technology, himself a scientist, gets the opinion of experts at the Department of Science and Technology and writes to no less an authority than the Prime Minister himself on the need for more precise standards in respect of bottled water.

The Tribune, New Delhi, February 17, 2003, Page No. 19

Everybody seems to be at sea on water:
This has to be the googly of the day. Just days after the Centre for Science and Environment found major packaged water brands with pesticides above acceptable levels, two of the largest bottled water players – Coca-Cola and Pepsico – have claimed their bottled water meets the stringent European norms for bottled water. Ditto mineral water brand Catch, which says it meets both US and European norms for pesticides.

The Economic Times, Delhi, February 17, 2003, Page No. 1

Tests show Aquafina meeting EU norms:
Tests commissioned by Pepsi Foods India for its bottled water, Aquafina, show the product as meeting even the European Union (EU) norms, regarded as the most stringent globally, for residual pesticides. The company commenced tests to confirm Aquafina’s quality after the recent reports published by the Centre for Science and Environment.

The Financial Express, Delhi, February 17, 2003, Page No. 4

Bottled water: State may make pesticide tests mandatory
The Kerala State Government is seriously considering making pesticide tests mandatory for the bottled drinking water supplied in the State, following reports of detection of dangerous levels of pesticides in packaged drinking water, according to Health department sources. This is set against the ‘differences’ that has cropped up between the two central agencies – the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) – over the proposal to adopt World Health Organisation (WHO) norms for bottled drinking water and mineral water.

The New Indian Express, Kochi, February 16, 2003, Page No. 4

Pesticides Residues In Bottled Water:
There was a time in the recently liberalized past when people didn’t quite know how to refer to a new product called drinking water. They would say ‘bottled water’ and ‘mineral water’ to freely refer to one or the other kind of water, perhaps meaning the same one. It used to be confusing. Between July and December 2002, the Pollution Monitoring Laboratory (PML) of the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) analysed 17 different brands of PDW and PNMW commonly sold in areas that fall within the national capital region of Delhi. The PML tested the samples for 12 organochlorides, and 8 organophosphorous pesticides – covering the spectrum of pesticides most used in India.

The Kashmir Times, Jammu, February 16, 2003, Page 1supp

Bottled is clean’ doesn’t hold water:
The current controversy over bottled water seems to have shaken the confidence of its consumers across Delhi. Health freaks, who wouldn’t have consumed any other water than the ‘safe and hygienic’ bottled ones, are now being forced to think twice before breaking the seal. After the Centre for Science and Environment made public it’s report and the subsequent media debatge ensued, people are also considering the option of investing in water purifying systems.

The Statesman, Delhi, February 16, 2003, Page No. 5

Muddy waters:
After flip-flopping over the issue for some time, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has adopted the European Union (EU) individual pesticide residue should not be more than 0.0001 milligram per litre and the total residues should not be over 0.0005 mg/litre. The change is norms come in the wake of the last week’s revelation by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) that bottled water of certain companies contained residues of extremely harmful pesticides.

The Economic Times, Delhi, February 16, 2003, Page No. 4

Potable water only for 40 pc Delhiites:
Mayor:
The Mayor of Delhi, Ms Jaishree Panwar, admitted that the civic authority had not able to provide potable water to nearly 40 per cent of Delhi’s population. She attributes the paucity of potable water to the burgeoning increase in the population of the Capital. Ms Panwar made these observations while inaugurating a workshop on the prevention and control of water borne diseases. The Mayor’s admission comes in the midst of skepticism over the purity of bottled water. An NGO, the Centre for Science and Environment, had recently indicted almost all brands of bottled water, stating that they contained hazardous chemicals and pesticides.

The Tribune, New Delhi, February 16, 2003, Page-sp1

New norms for bottled water to take effect from April 1:
The new safety and quality norms for packaged mineral and potable bottled water will become effective from April 1. A notification to this effect is expected by next month after the completion of formalities. However, there is no move to ban or take off the shelf the current stock of bottled water as it adhered to the old specifications laid down by the Bureau of Indian Standards, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Sushma Swaraj, categorically said.

The Hindu, New Delhi, February 16, 2003, Page No. 10

Drinking to health:
It's incredible how a headline can change lives. But ever since a CSE report on pesticides in bottled water made it to the front pages of all dailies, people flinch each time thirst pangs hit. At a seminar, visibly abashed Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) officials said they were thankful to the CSE for these experiments. Journalists pooh-poohed them and continued sipping on the mineral water bottles passed around to keep tempers from rising. So what is Sunita Narain (CSE head honcho) crying hoarse about? "BIS norms recommend a far less sensitive equipment, GCECD, with a packed column instead of a capillary column to test for pesticide residue," says she. "The point is that this method will not detect pesticides unless it is present in extremely high quantity." CSE voices the opinion of millions that the question is not how much, but, why?

The Pioneer, New Delhi, February 16, 2003, Page 3 supp

When a ban is not actually a ban:
As the Centre for Science and Environment findings open a Pandora's box about pesticide residues in drinking water, it resurrects consumer worries about the profile of pesticide products being used in India and the laws governing pesticide use. It is a fact that the Indian pesticide market is dominated by traditional chlorine and phosphorus-based compounds, quite a few of which have been phased out or restricted in the developed world. This issue has attracted enough ink over the years, to sting the Government into regulatory action. Over the past seven years, 38 pesticide products have been banned for use in agriculture within India.

Business Line, New Delhi, February 16, 2003, Page No. 3

Bottled water norms likely by April:
All the fuss over bottled-water looks set to be channelled towards a logical conclusion with the Union Health Minister, Ms Sushma Swaraj, putting a lid on the issue. "The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has quantified the limits for pesticide-residue in bottled-water, as per international standards," she told mediapersons, steering clear of mentioning either the EU or the World Health Organisation norms. The norms have been sent to the Law Ministry for approval and once these are cleared, the Health Ministry would notify it, she said. Industry would be given time to react and the entire process is expected to be completed by April 1, she said.

Business Line, New Delhi, February 16, 2003, Page No. 3

New norms for bottled water from April:
The new stringent standards for bottled water are likely to be made effective from April 1 this year, Union Health Minister Sushma Swaraj announced on Saturday. She confirmed that the Bureau of Indian Standards' (BIS) prescribed new maximum limits for detectable pesticides were in keeping with the international standards. The sensitive capillary method of detection will be introduced, she said. Refusing to specify whether the new code prescribed the more stringent European Union standards or the lower norms of the World Health Organisation, Swaraj said they had purposely stuck to the term "international' in the draft. "Standards keep changing and we should be at par with what is currently acceptable globally," she said.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, February 16, 2003, Page No. 6

Status of bottled water:
Branded water bottles have almost become a minor status symbol. Such bottle carriers give the impression that they are more concerned about the purity of the water they drink than the ordinary citizen who cannot afford to buy such costly bottles. Now a non-government scientific organisation’s (Centre for Science and Environment) study has shown that the residue in such so-called pur water contains pesticides much above the permissible levels. Even more important is the fact that the experts of the Union government of science and technology have confirmed the findings of the NGO study. (Editorial).

The Free Press Journal, Mumbai, February 15, 2003, Page No. 4

WHO mum on deadly pesticides in packaged water:
The government’s move to adopt World Health Organisation guidelines on standards for bottled water amounts to buckling under pressure from the Rs 1000 crore domestic packaged water industry and to a lowering of health parameters as the UN body is mum on the presence of several pesticides, the Centre for Science and Environment said. “The WHO has guidelines for only five of the 20 pesticides tested in bottled water and is completely silent on deadly pesticides like chlorpyrifos, endosulphan, phosphamidon and malathion,” said the CSE, which tested the top Indian packaged water brands allegedly carrying excessive pesticide residues.

Newstime, Hyderabad, February 15, 2003, Page No. 1

WHO norms on packaged water silent on deadly pesticides:
CSE:
The government’s move to adopt World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines on standards for bottled water amounts to buckling under pressure from the Rs 1000 crore domestic packaged water industry and to a lowering of health parameters as the UN body is mum on the presence of several pesticides, the Centre for Science and Environment said today. The CSE raised a furore last week when it exposed Indian bottled water brands said to contain quantum of pesticides of more than 0.5 micrograms, the permissible limit set by the European Union (EU). Last everning, consumer affairs secretary Wajahad Habibullah said Indian industry could not afford to conform to the stringent EU standards that would render the manufacturing process costlier, ultimately raising the price of the end product.

The Kashmir Times, Jammu, February 15, 2003, Page No. 9

Scientists differ on safety standards for bottled water:
Indian scientists seem divided on whether bottled or mineral water sold in the market currently is safe for drinking. A group of representing major research institutions in the country, including health experts, told media after daylong deliberations with the Bureau of Indian Standards that the present supplies are safe for human consumption. The stand is contrary to the report presented a week ago by a leading environment NGO, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

Central Chronicle, Bhopal, February 14, 2003, Page No. 13

Bottled water prices may be increased:
The adoption of European Union (EU) norms for packaged drinking water may be used as an excuse to raise its prices. A bottled water industry observer noted that firms would incur huge expenses while meeting the new Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) standards for safe pesticide levels.

The Times of India, Ahmedabad, February 14, 2003, Page No. 8

Confusion on norms for bottled water:
Bottled water it seems can bring even arch rivals like Pepsi, Coca-Cola and Bisleri to the same side of the table, when it comes to discussing the storm in the bottle of water! However, clarity is still something that eludes the powers that be, with conflicting signals being sent out on whether the Rs 1,000-crore packaged water industry would have to adopt the European Union (EU) norms or the World Health Organisation (WHO) parameters. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the organisation that certifies bottled water before it sports the ISI mark, held a meeting here today with the industry, "to look at myths and facts on quality issues". The organisation that had originally let the cat among the pigeons by stating that most bottled water brands contained pesticide-residues, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) had benchmarked the water against EU standards, "in the absence of proper Indian standards and since EU norms were the best".

Business Line, New Delhi, February 14, 2003, Page No. 5

Packaged water is 'safe':
The Bureau of Indian Standards today said the packaged water being sold under its earlier specification in the Indian market was "safe" and conformed to the guidelines laid by the World Health Organisation. Yet, it also said the norms had been revised — taking into account the WHO guidelines and European standards — and would be notified after the Ministry of Health brought amendment to the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act. Quick to react, the Centre of Science and Environment (CSE), which exposed the high presence of pesticides in most bottled water, said the BIS was backing out of setting fresh norms under pressure from the industry. The CSE said that the WHO guidelines covered only five of the 20 pesticides tested by them under the European norms. The WHO was silent on "deadly" pesticides like chlorpyrifos, endosulphan, phospamidon and malathion. In fact, the WHO had no guidelines for organophosphate pesticides, the CSE has alleged.

The Hindu, New Delhi, February 14, 2003, Page No. 9

Govtwaters down pesticides:
The Union Government today did another flip-flop on the packaged water controversy. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) said that though its technical committee had recommended new standards as per the European Union norms, packaged water with the present pesticide levels was "safe". Till yesterday, the BIS had been saying that it is in the process of notifying the EU norms. Today, it said that the WHO guidelines had been found to be good enough. "There is no need to take immediate action. The water being sold is safe and conforms to WHO guidelines," said Wajahat Habibullah, Consumer Affairs Secretary. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), whose study started the controversy, accused the government of "mortgaging public health by giving into industry pressure". "This is a googly because the WHO has norms for only five of the 20 pesticides tested in bottled water. WHO is silent on the norms for deadly pesticides like chlorpyrifos and endosulphan. It has no guidelines for organophosphate pesticides," it said in a statement.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, February 14, 2003, Page No. 1supp

EU norms for bottled water: BIS goes slow:
Four days after raising safety standards for packaged drinking water to European Union (EU) specifications, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) backtracked on its commitment to ensure safer drinking water for consumers. The BIS brass told a press conference on Thursday that a panel of experts would be set up to decide if the safety standards really needed to be upgraded to EU standards or the current WHO norms could stay. The announcement was preceded by a "technical session" where a dozen toxicologists flown in from all over the country certified BIS's current standards as 'safe'. Soon after BIS's press conference on Thursday, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) issued a statement saying the announcement was "as good as saying nothing", and that BIS's safety guidelines for packaged drinking water — conforming to World Health Organisation (WHO) standards — continued to be "frightfully inadequate". A CSE study, Pesticides in bottled water', had blown the whistle on BIS's safety norms on February 4, after it detected unacceptably high concentrations of pesticides in bottled water of top brands.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, February 14, 2003, Page No. 1

Pesticides found in water okay as per WHO: BIS:
The Bureau of Indian Standards on Thursday said India should follow the standards set by the World Health Organisation and not the European Economic Commission as the latter are "political." Coming out in favour of the bottled mineral water industry, BIS scientists even went to the extent of saying that pesticides found in water are not "harmful." In what may seem as a shot in the arm for the mineral water industry, the BIS said its scientists feel that India should follow the guidelines set by the World Health Organisation. A conclave was held of 70 scientists on Thursday morning. Earlier, the Centre for Science and Environment had tested bottled mineral water in Delhi and Mumbai. Of the 17 brands tested in Delhi and 13 in Mumbai, except for one, all contained pesticide residues far exceeding the standards specified for safe drinking water.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, February 14, 2003, Page No. 9

BIS to the rescue of mineral water companies:
The government and the scientific community came out to support the packaged and mineral water industry against the recent Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report. In a seminar on ‘Pesticide residue in packaged drinking water’ organized by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), it was decided that the packaged water conforming to the current BIS standards is ‘absolutely safe’ for drinking with pesticide content well below acceptable limits.

Business Standard, Delhi, February 14, 2003, Page No. 10

Bottled water safe for drinking: BIS:
The packaged drinking water being sold in the market is absolutely safe for humans, despite the presence of pesticides according to the BIS. This is because, under the WHO/CODEX guidelines there is something called ‘acceptable daily intake’. and the present level of pesticides in water will not harm three generations to come. The industry is likely to contest a report of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) which led to the controversy, the government prefers to revise and improve standards in a ‘dynamic manner’ while taking suggestions from all quarters.

The Economic Times, Delhi, February 14, 2003, Page No. 3

Bottled water row:
Controversy over standards for the Rs 1000-crore packaged water market in India today turned murkier with the government retracting from its earlier position of adopting European Union (EU) norms and announcing to set them on the guidelines of the World Health Organisation.

The Tribune, Delhi, February 14, 2003, Page No. 1

BIS rejects stringent EU norms for bottled water:
The technical committee of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has decided not to adopt the stringent European Union (EU) norms as the quality standards for bottled drinking water and mineral water in the country. Consumer affairs secretary W Habibullah and BIS director-general Nirmal Singh said that BIS decided to review quality standards for packaged drinking water and they said admitted that the existing BIS standards wre not sufficient to detect the level of permissible pesticide residues in drinking water. They also admitted that the exercise recently undertaken by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has generated public awareness about the presence of pesticide residues in drinking water.

The Financial Express, Delhi, February 14, 2003, Page No. 8

Strict norms for water under attack:
Three days after proposing stricter norms for packaged bottled water, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) seemed ready to do a turnaround on Thursday. It organised a technical seminar of the "scientist community" that dismissed the stricter norms, derived from European Union stipulations, as being "impractical and expensive". here have been concerns over the quality of bottled water after a study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment found unacceptably high levels of the residue of 20 pesticides in the water sold under top brands in Delhi and Mumbai.

The Times of India, Delhi, February 14, 2003, Page No. 1

Bottled truths: MCD licensing norms in limbo:
Even as the controversy over purity of packaged drinking water continues, it seems the Municipal Corporation of Delhi – which also gives license to manufacturers of bottling water plant – is yet to update its norms before giving the license. Manufacturers of packaged bottled water have to get a mandatory license from MCD’s health department and a no objection certificate from the Bureau of Indian Standards before setting up a plant in Delhi.

The Statesman, Delhi, February 14, 2003, Page No, 2

WHO norms to stay:
Five days after announcing that the Bureau of Indian Standards will adopt the European Union norms for packaged drinking water, the consumer affairs ministry along with representatives from the scientific community came out with in defence of World Health Organisation guidelines that the BIS was following till now.

The Statesman, Delhi, February 14, 2003, Page No. 2

Bottled water: Centre identifies 32 pesticides:
Amid the controversy over bottled drinking water, the Government has identified 32 pesticides, prescribing limits for their traces collectively and individually in the commodity. Official sources here said that the standards are yet to be notified and whether they should be applied with immediate effect or after a time gap is yet to be decided upon. The 32 pesticides include Malathion, DDT, Chlorpyrifos, Fenthion, Endosulfan and Lindane. In a test done by the Centre for Science and Environment, traces of these pesticides were found in bottled water more than 100 times the EU standards. For pesticide residues considered individually, the maximum residue limit has been fixed at 0.1 micromilligram per litre and for total pesticide residues, the limit is 0.5 micromilligram a litre.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, February 13, 2003, Page No. 3

'Rail Neer' scheme put off:
The controversy regarding bottled water has grounded an unlikely victim. The Union railway minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, has now been forced to bottle his plan to provide passengers with in-house packaged drinking water. The ambitious 'Rail Neer' scheme, to be launched on 17 February, has been put off owing to stricter standards imposed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) following the exposure by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) indicating the high presence of pesticides in major bottled water brands.

The Statesman, Delhi, February 13, 2003, Page No. 4

Eureke Forbes arm plans unit in S-E-Asia:
If recent revelations of contamination in bottled water has the mineral water players scurrying for cover, those in the water purifying business like Eureka Forbes - which has the Aquaguard brand -are upbeat. In recent weeks market enquiries have risen by over 200 per cent, it says. In a significant move, the Rs 130-crore Aquamall Water Solutions Ltd, a 100 per cent subsidiary of Eureka Forbes Ltd, is planning to set up a factory for manufacturing and marketing its flagship brand Aquaguard water purifiers in a South-East Asian country.

The Financial Express, Delhi, February 13, 2003, Page No. IV(s)

Limits set for pesticide traces in bottled water:
The government has identified 32 pesticides, prescribing limits for their traces, collectively and individually, in packaged and bottled drinking water. Officials sources said that standards are yet to be notified and their applicability, either immediate or after a time lag, yet to be decided. The 32 pesticides are malathion, DDT, monocrotophos, ethion, parathion, BHC, fenitrothion, carbaryl, aldicarb, methyl parathion, carbofuran, dimetholate and phosalone.

The Times of India, Delhi, February 13, 2003, Page No. 7

'Safe' water may cost more:
To remove pesticides from packaged water the private bottling firms may hike the price of water that is already expensive. The bottling firms are currently charging Rs 10 and above for one litre water while its main raw material - ground water is almost free of cost. Last week an NGO (Center For Science and Environment) study revealed that the costly water actually contained residues of extremely harmful pesticides. 'The rough cost break up of producing a litre of packaged water that is sold for Rs 10 is : 10 paise for raw water, 35 paise for the best possible electronic treatment, Rs 1.10 on packing in a plastic bottle up to Rs 2 on transporting the bottle and about Rs 3 for the seller. So, the maximum cost is Rs 6.55, said Sunita Narian of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) which conducted the study that revealed bottled packaged water and residues of harmful pesticides.

The Times of India, Delhi, February 13, 2003, Page No. 3

Global corporations, local standards:
Last week's revelations by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) did more than expose the bottled water industry. It also exposed multinational double standards. Giant corporations Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Nestle were found as guilty as home grown brands Bisleri and Bailley of using and selling water contaminated with pesticide. Of course, all the manufacturers concerned have been arguing that they were strictly conforming to the standards set out by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The implication is that if the BIS's standards fell below European norms, well, that was a different matter altogether. It's all a question, they seem to be saying, of following the letter of the law rather than the spirit.

Business Standard, New Delhi, February 13, 2003, Page No. 7

Packaged water firms yet to clean process:
Even after the Bureau of Indian Standards' (BIS) decision to upgrade the norms for packaged water, large players are showing no signs of improving their production facilities. Packaged water manufacturers like Bisleri, Coca-Cola and Pepsi continue to maintain that their brands meet the highest safety norms. "The water we are providing does not contain any pesticides. The membrane filter system that we deploy at our plants will filter the smallest of the bacteria," said Bisleri chairman Ramesh Chauhan. Thus, hinting that no new investment will be made to upgrade the company's manufacturing units to conform to more stringent health standards. It is worth noting that Chauhan's Bisleri has been the worst affected by a report published by the NGO Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The report revealed that many popular brands of packaged water contain pesticides above those prescribed by European standards.

Business Standard, New Delhi, February 13, 2003, Page No. 2

Norms for bottled water to be notified:
Norms including stringent testing of pesticides in packaged drinking water and mineral water may be notified by the Union health ministry in the next ten days. The food ministry is likely to withdraw Bureau of Indian Standards certification from bottled eater stocks which are with manufacturers at present. Such stocks was issued BIS certification on the basis of earlier norms which allowed excess residue of pesticide in packaged water.

The Statesman, Delhi, February 12, 2003, Page No. 6

BIS adopts EU norms for water:
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has adopted the European Union norms for bottled packaged water. Issued on Monday (10th Feb) the norms stipulate that the individual pesticide residue should not be more than 0.0001 milligram per litre (mg/litre). BIS has also junked its earlier testing method and gone in for the globally used capillary column method to detect pesticide residue. The change in norms come in the wake of last week’s revelation by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) that bottled water contained residues of extremely harmful pesticides.

The Times of India, Delhi, February 12, 2003, Page No. 1

Pesticide in north, it’s microbes down south:
If leading bottled water brands in Delhi and Mumbai contain a deadly cocktail of pesticide residues, it is microbial contamination that is worrying the authorities in Hyderabad and major cities in south India. A leading company here that tests water of different brands from all over the country has admitted that microbial contamination has become common and the matter has been regularly brought to the notice of the Bureau of Industrial Standards (BIS). Meanwhile, the BIS has become active following the CSE report on the quality of bottled drinking water in Delhi and Mumbai. While the local governments have ordered an enquiry, the BIS feels that the situation elsewhere may not be much different. The CSE report tested 17 samples and the results said they contained five pesticide residues, on an average 36.4 times higher than the EEC standards. Despite the brands having the ISI mark, bottled water contained residual levels banned in North America and Europe.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, February 12, 2003, Page No. 4

Enforce better standards:
Pure water,as claimed, is not pure enough. Many branded water bottles contain pesticide residues that exceed permissible levels, as a non-governmental agency's study showed last week. The Union Department of Science and Technology's experts have also confirmed it. Serious official efforts are now on to improve the existing standards and norms for "packaged drinking water". All this is putting pressure on the Rs.1,000-crore packaged or bottled water business. The Delhi-based NGO, Centre for Science and Environment, revealed that a random analysis of the bottled water of 30 brands in Delhi and Mumbai showed that many of the samples contained pesticide residues such as organochlorines and organophosphorous, including Lindane, DDT and Malathion. Within days of the study reports being made public, a flood of advertisements was released by the branded water manufacturers explaining the technologies they use to make their water as pure as can be.

The Hindu, New Delhi, February 12, 2003, Page No. 10

On the water front:
With the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) announcing significant alterations in its method to establish the purity of packaged drinking water, a number of questions arise. For instance, why was it left to an independent body like the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) to conduct tests to ascertain the safety of bottled drinking water? After all, was it not the responsibility of the BIS to set clear and unambiguous standards for a product that has become virtually one of mass consumption in towns and cities? The regulatory body left certain yardsticks vague by not stating categorically that pesticides should "not be present" and specifying only that they ought to be "absent" in bottled water.

The Pioneer, New Delhi, February 12, 2003, Page No. 4

Banned in US, but sold in India, found in mineral water:
Aldrin, an insecticide widely used in homes and farms to control termites, was banned after a protracted international campaign. Now there is evidence that the approved substitute, chlorpyrifos, might be equally harmful. The same story of indiscriminate use is being repeated — within 10 years of chlorpyrifos being cleared for household use, it is being detected in water. In the recent expose by Centre for Science and Environment on bottled water, 28 out of 34 samples showed the presence of this insecticide. Most brands had 100 times more residue than the European Union standards would allow. It obviously means the compound is seeping into the underground aquifers and the bottled water companies have not been able to clean it. The presence of chlorpyrifos in water is surprising experts as it is considered to be ‘‘mildly’’ soluble.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, February 12, 20003, Page No. 1

Bottled poison:
The mismatch in the response of different government departments to the recent disclosures about the alarming phenomenon of bottled poison being marketed as mineral water is disconcerting. The consumer affairs ministry and the Bureau of Indian Standards have been fairly prompt in reacting to the shocking findings about BIS-certified packaged drinking water sold in Delhi and Mumbai containing dangerously high amounts of pesticide residue but the same cannot be said of the health ministry which was expected to take serious note of such a major hazard to public health as water rich in poison being marketed as a safe alternative to locally available water. The BIS invited Sunita Narain, director of the Centre for Science and Environment, to give a presentation on the tests carried out by the CSE which were published in media and prompted the government to order an enquiry……Editorial

Newstime, Hyderabad, February 11, 2003, Page No. 9

DS Foods begins roll-out of Catch flavoured water:
Even as all bottled water brands found with pesticide residue are busy proving that they are not contaminated, the others seem to be going ahead with their plans. DS Foods — the Rs 100-crore foods division of the Rs 600-crore DS Group — has soft launched Catch flavoured water. Catch, along with Evian and Himalaya, were the three brands found free of pesticide residue, according to the recent study conducted by the Centre for Sciences and Enviromnent (CSE). The Catch water brand, categorised as natural spring water, is bottled at source in the Himalayas. According to the company spokesperson, the flavoured water is also being bottled at the same source. "The flavours have been developed in-house, and tested extensively.

Business Line, New Delhi, February 11, 2003, Page No. 6

Soft drink cos in `troubled waters'?:
The controversy over the issue of pesticide residue in packaged water, based on the study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) recently, may well have opened a can of worms. While several of the 30 packaged water brands which find a mention in the CSE list are manufactured by companies whose sole business is that of packaged water, there are exceptions such as Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, Parle Beverages and United Breweries. The BIS will effect changes in its standards for packaged drinking water complying with European norms, and prices are expected to increase.

Business Line, New Delhi, February 11, 2003, Page No. 3

BIS to revise pesticide residue guidelines:
More water seems to have flowed, since the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) brought out its report on pesticide residue in bottled water. A hectic, meeting-filled weekend notwithstanding, consumers, and for that matter even the packaged water companies, seem to be at sea, as to where they stand on the issue. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and Food, has decided to put a fix on pesticide residue in packaged water and the issue has flowed on for incorporation in the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) rules, issued by the Union Health Ministry. "The BIS technical committee has set a fixed limit for the total residue and parameters for individual pesticides. This would be notified shortly and companies will be given time to fall in line," the official said.

Business Line, New Delhi, February 11, 2003, Page No. 3

‘Enforce new norms for packaged water’:
Union Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Yadav on Monday asked his Ministry officials and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to hurry up the implementation of new standards for packaged drinking water. At a meeting convened by the Minister, however, no decision was taken on the fate of the existing stock of packaged drinking water which does not conform to European Standards. Meanwhile, the Director of Centre for Science and Environment, Ms Sunita Narain, has expressed satisfaction over the new parameters for testing pesticides prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards. She said that the newly-prescribed maximum residue limit of 0.1 micro gram per litre for individual pesticides and the total pesticide residue limit of 0.5 microgram per litre conforms to European standards.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, February 11, 2003, Page No. 5

Norms for bottled water made stringent:
The Ministry of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs has written to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to update its Prevention of Food Adulteration Act to bring it in line with the new standards set for packaged/bottled drinking water. This has come about after the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) revised its norms on Feb 8 for packaged drinking water and made them stringent to bring them at par with international standards. This was after the Centre for Science and Environment found out that the pesticide residual presence in bottled water of most brands was higher than accepted international standards. The bureau has now decided to adopt European standards, which are more stringent.

The Hindu, New Delhi, February 11, 2003, Page No. 13

Nothing new in new norms say bottled water makers:
The new directive of the consumer affairs ministry for bottled/mineral water manufacturers is similar to the existing norms of the BIS, according to manufacturers of mineral/ bottled water. Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) norms, as of today, are consistent with World Health Organisation (WHO) norms, so I don’t see much difference that the ministry has announced’, said Mr Ramesh Chauhan, chairman of Parle Biseleri Ltd. As per the new norms the bottled/mineral water will be tested for 32 types of pesticides. The issue of high pesticide content came into light in a test conducted on mineral/bottled water by Centre for Science and Environment.

The Financial Express, Delhi, February 11, 2003, Page No. 3

Bottled water: Quality standards revision initiated:
Even as the Bureau of Indian Standards has decided to make more stringent the quality standards of packaged water, the Union ministries of consumer affairs and health as well as bottled water companies, are tightlipped on how they are planning to tackle the situation. Last week, an NGO, (Centre for Science and Environment) tested various brands of mineral water, and found traces of pesticides in them. Based on a Bureau of Indian Standards internal report, the consumer affairs ministry has written to the ministry of health and family welfare for suitable modification in the gazette notifications to bring them in line with other international specifications like the European Union’s directives on drinking water, senior official said.

The Statesman, Delhi, February 11, 2003, Page No. 4

Do you hear the wake-up call?:
Kochi is yet to experience the storm in the ‘water bottle’ even as health experts and agencies point to dark clouds that have gathered over it. Studies conducted by the Delhi based – Centre for Science and Environment, and the Prevention of Food Adulteration wing of the Kerala Health Department have found that bottled water contains hazardous elements like pesticides, chemicals and dangerous elements like pesticides, chemicals and dangerous bacteria. Many brands are found to be flouting norms set by the WHO and the Union Government, for potable water.

The New Indian Express, Kochi, February 10, 2003, Page No. 1supp

Bottled drinking water standards to be revised on EU lines:
Amidst the controversy over alleged presence of pesticides in bottled water, the Consumer Affairs Ministry has initiated revision of quality standards by writing to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MHFW) for modification of concerned notifications. ‘Any revision in the standards including those for pesticides detection is only possible through their amendment after a directive is issued by MHFW, the administrative body for the purpose under Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, ‘official sources said.

The Free Press Journal, Mumbai, February 10, 2003, Page No. 3

‘Packed drinking water not contaminated’:
The KMC has not found contamination in packed drinking water samples collected in 2002. (All packed drinking water is not mineral water). Packed drinking water came under the scanner after a Delhi NGO, Centre for Science and Environment showed that those being sold in the country contain excess pesticide residue.

The Statesman, Kolkata, February 10, 2003, Page No. III(s)

Drinking bottled water? Think twice:
Bottled drinking water may look pure and crystal clear, but many brands contain microbial contamination that could be a health risk in the long run. A leading company that tests water of different brands from all over the country has admitted that microbial contamination has become common and the matter has been regularly brought to the notice of the Bureau of Industrial Standards. Following alarming reports by the Centre for Science and Environment on pesticide residues in bottled drinking water in Delhi and Mumbai, BIS sent loads of sealed drinking water bottles from various markets and manufacturing units across India to Vimta for testing.

The New Indian Express, Hyderabad, February 10, 2003, Page No. 1

Time to act:
The air we breathe is polluted, the water we drink is contaminated and the toilet items that we use are harmful to health. Are the Government agencies like Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Indian Standards Institution (ISI) capable of protecting us? In the case of bottled water, an analytical study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment's pollution monitoring laboratory reveals that pesticide residues were found in about 34 brands including some popular ones. Pesticides which were discovered in the samples will cause chronic health problems. Clearly it is a crime to package such deadly poison and give it to us as 'clean, safe water'...editorial

Deccan Herald, Bangalore, February 10, 2003, Page No. 8

Poison in your water:
The purified water that one grabs in the market in sealed bottles may not turn out to be as safe as it promises to be. The reports of infected bottled water and natural mineral water sold in the market point out this grave fact. The laboratory test conducted by Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi has revealed that there are impurities and toxic pesticides present in some of the branded bottled water. The shocking news is an indication that every time a consumer picks up a bottle of mineral water instead of drinking from any tap or any glass of water offered, he may not be too sure whether the safety standards are being maintained or not...editorial

The Kashmir Times, Jammu, February 10, 2003, Page No. 6

EU norms for bottled water:
The Union consumer affairs ministry has finally begun the process of revising quality standards for packaged bottled water by asking the ministry of health and family welfare (MHFW) to modify the concerned notifications. It wants the pesticide levels to match the ones prescribed in the European Union (EU). A recent study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) had shown that bottled water contained residues of extremely harmful pesticides.

The Times of India, Delhi, February 10, 2003, Page No. 3

New standards for bottled water outlined:
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has effected a change in its standard for packaged drinking water. It has adopted the European norms and junked its five-year-old standards and testing procedure that were recently criticised for being vague and not sensitive enough. The amendment follows a two-hour presentation made by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) director Sunita Narain to BIS officials on Saturday. BIS had invited Narain after some tests the CSE ran on BIS-certified packaged drinking water sold in Delhi and Mumbai, and found dangerously high amounts of pesticide residue in it. The results of the tests were published in the media and the government had ordered an inquiry.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, February 10, 2003, Page No. 1

Govt report too flows against bottled:
Water packaged and sold as "pure" has high levels of pesticides, a Government study has confirmed. Science and Technology Minister Murli Manohar Joshi has written to Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee that his department has found "considerable merit" in the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report on bottled water sold in Delhi and Mumbai. "In view of my department’s report, there is an urgent need for precisely defined and quantitative standards (for bottled water)," Joshi wrote. He said the results of the tests by the Ministry’s scientists, showing high levels of pesticides even in the popular brands, were "shocking".

The Indian Express, New Delhi, February 10, 2003, 1supp.

‘Experts Confirm high level of pesticides in bottled water’:
Scientists and experts of the Department of Science and Technology have confirmed the findings of the Centre of Science and Environment about the high level of pesticides in bottled drinking water. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Minister for Science and Technology and Human Resource Development, Murli Manohar Joshi, said the experts had studied in detail the original report on the analysis of the pesticide residue in bottled water brought out by the Pollution Monitoring Laboratory of the Centre and found considerable merit in their findings and conclusions. Underscoring the need for stringent measures to check contamination of bottled water, Dr. Joshi suggested more precisely defined quantitative standards.

The Hindu, New Delhi, February 10, 2003, Page No. 1

Testing norms for bottled water to change:
The BIS is likely to incorporate necessary changes in its testing procedure and standards for bottled drinking water in view of the sensational revealations that the popular brands of bottled water sold in Delhi and Mumbai carry extremely harmful pesticides which can cause cancer in the long run. Ms Sunita Narain, Director, CSE, which came out with the survey results, was invited to the Joint meeting convened by two technical committees concerned, Drinks and Carbonated Beverages-FAD 14, and Pesticides Residue Analysis-FAD 15, in New Delhi on Friday to review the requirements of pesticide residues as laid down in the Indian standards.

Free Press, Indore, February 09, 2003, Page No. 10

State orders tests an all mineral water brands:
In order to obviate apprehensions with regard to bottled mineral water following disturbing reports in Delhi, the Gujarat state health department has ordered tests on all the mineral water brands in the market. The decision was a fall-out of the results of the Delhi based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) that tested 17 brands in Delhi and 13 in Mumbai and found them to be containing pesticide residues.

The Times of India, Ahmedabad, February 09, 2003, Page No. 3

Water of India:
The other name for water is life. It has been known for a very long time that the poor of India are often deprived of water and definitely of good quality water. But now it is clear that even the affluent in India are drinking water full of impurities and pesticides. Analysis carried out by the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi based non-governmental organisation, has revealed that most of the brands selling drinking water in bottles have pesticide residues in excess of levels permitted as safe for drinking. This leaves a big question mark regarding the bottled water industry, which has total sales of Rs 1,000 crore and is growing at the rate of 40 per cent. The industry includes a number of well known global players…….

Editorial The Telegraph, Calcutta, February 09, 2003, Page No. 10

Water, pesticides & ‘detectable limits’:
Recent revelations by a Delhi-based NGO working for science and environment seem to have made people less thirsty. At the same time those behind the prosperous trade of selling packaged ‘aqua-pesticide’ find themselves in troubled waters. Little was it known – during the pre-CSE report era –that when one gulped water from those well-sealed plastic bottles of various household brands, one wasn’t exactly ‘playing safe’ but offering an invitation to ‘please damage my liver, kidney and immune system’.

The Statesman, Delhi, February 09, 2003, Page No. 5

Dirty waters:
Residues of extremely harmful pesticides have been found in popular brand of bottled water sold in Delhi and Mumbai. The pesticides identified are lindane, DDT, chlorphrifos and malathion. They collect in the body over years and cause cancer, attack the nervous system and weaken the immune system. The study has been conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The independent study on the quality of bottled water has clouded the entire industry.

The Economic Times, Delhi, February 09, 2003, Page No.4

Mineral water with a pinch of salt:
CSE’s findings of pesticides in bottled mineral water have shocked consumers. The Pollution Monitoring Laboratory (PML) of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) recently conducted a study of pesticides in bottled mineral water. For the purposes of the test, CSE used the European Economic Commission’s norms for maximum permissible limits for pesticides in pacakaged water against the standards set for pesticide residues by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

The Financial Express, Delhi, February 09, 2003, Page No. 4

New BIS norms likely for bottled mineral water:
The testing procedure and standards of bottled water are likely to be changed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) following the sensational revelation that they contained harmful pesticides which can cause cancer in the long run. Sources said the BIS had convened a meeting on Feb 7 where Ms Sunita Narain, Director of Centre for Science and Environment, made a detailed presentation on the “bottled water report” prepared by CSE. The CSE study had revealed that the popular brands of bottled water sold in India contained residues of pesticides like lindane, DDT, melathion and chlorpyrifos.

The Tribune, New Delhi, February 09, 2003, Page-sp1

Drinking to bad health:
According to Sunita Narain, Director , Centre for Science and Environment , the indiscriminate and irresponsible attitude of the bottled water industry towards public health-an important issue in any civilised country-is alarming. For years, they made the consumer pay for poisonous water and the authorities concerned did nothing. The question of the hour is: Who should we hold responsible-the industry or the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the apex body responsible for quality control and licencing? In this regard, both are equally responsible for the current mess. While the hallmark of any industry across the globe is to cheat the consumer in some way or the other, the standardisation system paves the way.

The Pioneer, New Delhi, February 09, 2003, Page No. 4sp

ERRATICA: Water way to go:
A mineral-water bottle dangling near toned butts has become so common a sight that it could well be called a hip flask. Now it seems it could also give you cirrhosis, going by the Centre for Science and Environment study which revealed that safe bottled water could cause cancer. Worse, it could ruin your sex life. So now, Nobody Says Aquafina. Ever since the story on dangerous levels of pesticide contamination broke, the Mineral Water Classes have talked of nothing else while taking swigs from their clear plastic bottles.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, February 09, 2003, Page No. 17

Goodbye open spaces, Delhi us heading for planned disaster:
By next decade, Delhities can say goodbye to open stretches, including Safdarjung Airport. Thinly-built areas such as RK Puram, Pusa Institute and large chunks of Delhi Contonment are also likely to come under the axe : just some of the drastic steps envisaged in Delhi’s revised Master Plan likely to be implemented from next year. ‘With population pressure rising and ground water levels dropping, we will not be able to survive till 2010’, warns Sunita Narain director of Centre for Science and Environment.

Times of India, Delhi, February 09, 2003

Coliform bacteria, acidic minerals in bottled water:
The Bottled drinking water sold in Kerala state is not safe for consumption as many brands contain cholera-causing coliform bacteria seen in human faeces, and minerals that make the water either acidic or alkaline. The Health Directorate’s Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) wing, the agency which ensures quality of food articles and beverages, had detected eight such cases during 2002.

The New Indian Express, Kochi, February 08, 2003, Page No. 4

Mineral water probe report soon:
Yadav:
The Union Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Yadav said that the inquiry committee investigating the mineral water controversy would submit its reports within three weeks. Talking to mediapersons in Chandigarh today, he said that a committee constituted under the supervision of a joint secretary had started collecting samples from all over the country and report was expected within three weeks.Describing as disturbing the report produced by the NGO, Yadav said that the gulty would not be spared.”Consumers will not be allowed to be cheated at any cost,” he assured.

The Indian Express, Chandigarh, February 08, 2003, Page No. 2

More ripples likely in bottled water; BIS to review norms:
More ripples are expected in the Rs 1,000-crore bottled water industry, as the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) seems set to review parameters for pesticide residue in packaged water. The BIS today called for a technical committee meeting to review its pesticide residue standards following the findings of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report that revealed that bottled water contained a "cocktail of pesticide residue."

Business Line, New Delhi, February 08, 2003, Page No. 5

Norms for bottled water to be revised :
Alarmed at reports of pesticide residues being found in bottled water in the country, government has begun preliminary work to revise the norms governing the industry, officials said. A detailed presentation has been made before a committee by the Centre for
Science and Environment.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, February 08, 2003, Page No. 13

State orders tests for bottled water brands:
The Maharashtra government directed the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) to conduct laboratory tests on all brands of bottled water following a report showing that some contained traces of pesticide in excess of European Union standards. There are 83 bottling plants in Maharashtra, of which 13 are located in Mumbai. The Union government has already ordered its own investigation after tests conducted on 13 popular brands of bottled water in Mumbai and Delhi by the Delhi based Centre for Science and Environment’s Pollution Monitoring Laboratory in January 2003 revealed the presence of pesticide residues.

The Times of India, Mumbai, February 07, 2003, Page No. 3

Troubled brewing in the aerated water bottle:
‘Shall we or shall we not’ sort of an attitude has gripped the citizens who are used to gallop bottled water to quench their thirst virtually on the drop of a hat. Fuming distributors of bottled water say their sales are likely to go down. This is in retaliation to the report submitted by Delhi based Centre for Science and Environment which says, residues of extremely harmful pesticides have been found in popular brands of bottled water.

The Free Press Journal, Mumbai, February 07, 2003, Page No. 11

State not to ban sale of branded bottled water:
Anil Deshmukh
Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration Minister Anil Deshmukh admitted that the State Government was not in a position to ban the sale of branded bottled water across the States unless the Centre amends standards for packaged drinking water. Quoting a recent study conducted by an NGO (Centre for Science and Environment), Deshmukh stated that the residues of extremely harmful pesticides were found in bottled water purchased from markets of Delhi and Mumbai.

The Free Press Journal, Mumbai, February 07, 2003, Page No. 9

Unsafe in any bottle:
Few industries have been exposed as comprehensively as the bottled water industry has just been. An industry that profits from ordinary citizens; fear of drinking contaminated water available in the taps, and does so by selling water with pesticide residue well above the safe limits, can have little to say in its defence. They technically do not breach any law, but is that an answer to shocked consumers? The investigation carried out by the Delhi based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a non-governmental organisation of repute, has shown that all but one of the 17 brands being marketed in Delhi and 13 in Mumbai have pesticide residues in excess of the levels described as safe for drinking. (Editorial).

The Free Press Journal, Mumbai, February 07, 2003, Page No. 4

Govt orders probe into toxic bottled water:
Following reports of bottled water sold in Delhi and Mumbai containing dangerous levels of pesticide residues, Union health minister of con summer affairs Sharad Yadav ordered an enquiry by a four-member committee into the ‘alleged inadequacies’. According to a study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on bottled water purchased from markets in Delhi and Mumbai, residues of extremely harmful pesticides were found in the water.

The Times of India, Mumbai, February 06, 2003, Page No. 1

What next?:
There was never any question in the mind of anyone opening up a bottle of mineral water and taking swigs from it. The water had to be safe for drinking and that is why the bottles were preferred over tap water. However, it appears that those sipping mineral water were also gulping down extremely harmful pesticides. And mind you we are not talking here about some nondescript brands of mineral water. If the internationally accepted test carried out by Centre for Science and Environment turns out to be true then it would indeed be shocking that the Rs 1000 crore mineral water industry has been dishing out ‘deadly’ water…….

Editorial Central Chronicle, Bhopal, February 06, 2003, Page No. 6

Govt. will tell if bottled water safe:
The Government announced a high level inquiry into the alleged presence of deadly pesticide residues in various brands of bottled drinking water, saying that the matter is “disturbing and
very serious”. “There will be a high level inquiry into media reports about a research showing pesticide residue in packaged drinking water manufactured by leading companies,” said
Consumer Affairs and Food Minister Sharad Yadav. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) had said that its research showed alarming levels of pesticide residue in most leading brands sold in Delhi and Mumbai. Out of the 17 brands tested, only one was pure.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, February 6, 03 page-sp1

Packaged water sales dry up:
Retail sales of packaged water fell today, a day after the Centre for Science and Environment reported that leading packaged water brands contained pesticides beyond permissible limits.
Though companies like Coca-Cola which sell packaged water brands featured on the CSE list insisted that there was no impact on sales, grocery stores in several New Delhi markets reported that consumers were returning in large numbers packaged water brands on the list. Restaurants in the city also reported lower sales of packaged water.

Business Standard, New Delhi , February 6, 03 page-1

Unsafe in any bottle:
Few industries have been exposed as comprehensively as the bottled water industry has just been. An industry that profits from the ordinary citizen’s fear of drinking contaminated water
available in the taps, and does so by selling water with pesticide residue well above the safe limits, can have little to say in its defence. For the fact is that not even one bottler of Indian water emerges unscathed. The investigations carried out by the Delhi based Centre for Science and Environment, a non-governmental organisation of repute, has shown that all but one of the 17 brands being marketed in Delhi and 13 in Mumbai have pesticide residues in excess of the levels described as safe for drinking……Editorial

Business Standard, New Delhi, February 6, 03 page-7

Centre orders probe into bottled water contamination:
The Centre has ordered an inquiry into the alleged inadequacies in the packaging of drinking water/mineral water, sold after a Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) certification, based on the
findings of the Centre for Science and Environment. The Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Sharad Yadav, has set up an inquiry committee headed by the
Additional Secretary in the Ministry with the Director, BIS, as member secretary.

The Hindu, New Delhi, February 6, 03, page-3

Panel to probe bottled water issue:
The Centre for Science and Environment report on pesticide residue in bottled water seems to have elicited a response from the Government. The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs,
Food and Public Distribution, Mr Sharad Yadav, has ordered an enquiry into the alleged inadequacies in packaged water, the ISI certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), notwithstanding.

Business Line, New Delhi, February 6, 03 page-5

Questions on bottled water:
Reports on the presence of pesticides in bottled water are not entirely unexpected. Apparently, people have been aware of this menace for quite some time. However, what is alarming this time is the scope and magnitude of the problem as revealed by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in its report released. The CSE, which enjoys considerable reputation for its pioneering work over the years, has said that samples of almost all water bottles available in Delhi except one imported from France contained 36.4 times more pesticides than the permissible levels stipulated by the European Economic Commission……Editorial

The Tribune, New Delhi, February 6, 03 page-10

Contaminated bottled water: Probe ordered:
Taking cognisance of media reports that highlighted the contamination in mineral water bottles during a random survey in the Capital and Mumbai, the Government announced a high level probe into the matter. The Centre for Science and Environment had released the results of a survey conducted by them that revealed the presence of deadly pesticides in various brands of bottled drinking water.

The Tribune, New Delhi, February 6, 03 page-sp1

Water firms for stricter norms:
Companies selling bottled drinking water insist that they have been adhering to the government’s quality norms. If these norms do not meet global standards, the companies feel, it is the responsibility of the government to upgrade the norms. The companies were responding to a study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment which shows that bottled drinking water sold in Delhi and Mumbai has residues of harmful pesticides. The residues in many samples are at dangerously high levels.

The Times of India, New Delhi, February 6, 03 page-1

Contaminated deep below:
If the costly packaged water bottles bearing ISI marks have been found to contain residues of harmful pesticides then how bad must the raw groundwater, that is treated to fill those bottles
here, be? On Feb 5th, after releasing the study on dirty bottled water, Centre for Science and Environment director Sunita Narain had said: “The bigger issue is that of groundwater
contamination.”

The Times of India, New Delhi, February 6, 03 page-5

Pesticides in water: Govt. orders probe:
Following the reported detection of deadly pesticides in bottled water sold in Delhi and Mumbai, Union Minister of consumer affairs Sharad Yadav has ordered an inquiry by a four member committee into the “alleged inadequacies”. According to a study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment, residues of extremely harmful pesticides were found in various brands of bottled water.

The Times of India, New Delhi, February 6, 03 page-8

Poisoned Pani
Purified water, goes the label, but few of us quite believed that. Even by our now low expectations, the expose on branded bottled water conducted by the Centre for Science and
Environment will both frighten and shock. The bottles contain, not just a few impurities we’re quite used to that in almost all edible products but dangerous levels of toxic pesticides. The
more popular brands contain as much as 104 times the safe limit as prescribed by the EU…..Editorial

The Times of India, New Delhi, February 6, 03 page-16

Quality of bottled water:
The tragedy with the bottled water industry in India is that it has attained majority in accordance with the size but in case of quality it is still lacking behind. Even by our low expectations, the expose on branded bottled water conducted by the Centre for
Science and Environment will both frighten and shock. The bottles contain, not just a few impurities – we’re quite used to that in almost all edible products –but dangerous levels of toxic pesticides. Pesticides like chlorpyrifos and malathion weaken the immune system, attack the nervous system and increase suspectibility to cancer……Editorial

Navbharat Times, New Delhi, February 6, 03 page-16

Report fails to bother Delhi’ites:
The government might have ordered a probe into a report by non-governmental organisation that 17 popular brands of mineral water, including Bisleri and Kinley, contain high percentages of pesticides, but that hasn’t proved to be a deterrent for a large number of Delhi’ites. A day after the findings by the Centre for Science and Environment were made public, they continued to consume mineral water, either due to lack of options or
awareness.

The Statesman, New Delhi, February 6, 03 page-1

Poison in water:
There is a bad news for the drinkers of bottled water. According to the study by Centre for Science and Environment, most of the bottled water contains residues of pesticides. It can cause numerous chronic diseases like cancer, and various diseases in
kidney, liver, nervous system etc.

Jansatta, New Delhi, February 6, 03 page-6

Harmful chemicals in drinking water distributed by Delhi Jal Board:
Delhi Jal Board’s packaged bottled water is five times more harmful than in comparison to the other mineral bottled water.It consists of a deadly cocktail of pesticides like malathion,
chlorpyrifos and lindane. According to Centre for Science and Environment, a study conducted by London based research organisation has established that pesticides like chlorpyrifos and malathion weaken the immune system, attack the nervous system and increase suspectibility to cancer.

Rashtriya Sahara, New Delhi, February 6, 03 page-1

Poison in bottle:
The expose by the Centre for Science and Environment on the quality of branded bottled water is shocking and an eye opener. Purchasing water doesn't guarantee a good health as
was thought so far.... Editorial.

Amar Ujala Meerut, February 6, 03 page-4

Govt report on bottled water in 3 weeks:
The Central government has ordered an inquiry into the presence of deadly pesticides in bottled water. On Tuesday, Mid Day carried an exclusive report on the findings of a recent study into pesticide content in bottled water.

Mid Day, Mumbai, February 6, 03

Study find bottled water in India contains pesticides:
The study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment, non-government organisation has found that of the 17 leading brands available in and around New Delhi, only Evian, imported from France was free of deadly pesticides.

E-taiwannews.com, February 6, 03

Bottled water in India has high levels of pesitcide:
Popular brands of bottled water sold in India contain pesticide residues that can cause cancer or disorders of the nervous system, a study has found. Seventeen brands tested in and around New Delhi were taken for testing by the city's non-government Centre for Science and Environment.

The Strait Times, February 6, 03

Govt reacts: Inquiry into quality of water:
Describing as disturbing the report produced by the NGO, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Yadav on Wednesday ordered an investigation by a high-level committee that will submit a report in three weeks.The committee will examine whether the BIS norms and tests are adequate anf if they are being enforced properly.It will also say if BIS standards for testing water should be upgraded to current international standards.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, February 6, 03, page 1

The poisonous sip:
In a recent study jointly conducted by Hindustan Times, it was found that drinking water in Delhi was unsafe.It seemed that the only way people could be sure that they were not going to fall ill was to become a regular consumer of bottled water – at that time considered a safe salternative.Now, even that choice is not available. The findings of a study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment(CSE) on the contents of bottled water are, to put it mildly, alarming.According to tests carried out in 30 brands of packaged drinking water in Delhi and Mumbai, most of the samples were found to contain a cocktail of pesticide residues in amounts far exceeding safety standards…..Editorial

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, February 6, 03, page 12

Panel to examine norms for bottled drinking water:
A committee has been constituted by consumer affairs, food and public distribution minister Sharad Yadav to look into adequacy of standards for packaged drinking water and natural mineral water.The committee will also probe into the allegations of impure water being sold after BIS certification and submit its report within three weeks.The committee was formed following a disclosure by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) about presence of residues of extremely harmful pesticides in the bottled drinking water of various popular brands.

The Financial Express, New Delhi, February 6, 03, page 3

Govt orders high-level probe:
The Government has ordered a high-level investigation into the alleged presence of deadly pesticides in various brands of bottled drinking water, saying the matter is "disturbing and very serious".The four-member enquiry committee, headed by Additional Secretary in the Consumer Affairs department Satwant Kaur Reddy has been asked to submit its report within three weeks.The CSE study, found five different pesticide residues in the samples, including banned chemicals.

The Pioneer, New Delhi, February 6, 03, page 5

Debate over pesticide residue clouds bottled water:
Even as the government orders a high-level peobe into the alleged presence of pesticide residues in bottled water, the industry is asking which safety/hygiene norms should Indian companies follow – Indian or European? FICCI’s Food Research Analysis Centre (FRAC), which has been testing bottled water for the past two years, has also found that brands like Bisleri, Aquafina, Kinley and Purelife are meeting the Indian pesticide residue norms for bottled water, as laid down by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).However, the National Accredited Board for Testing Laboratories (NABL)-accredited FRAC has also, like the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), found that the Indian bottled water brands fall short of the European standards on pesticide residue.

The Economic Times, New Delhi, February 6, 03, page 22

Water row shocks Sarita Vihar:
The news about the presence of pesticides in bottled water as per the findings of a study by Centre for Science and Environment has left residents of Sarita Vihar rattled. In a water starved colony, where 20-litre bottled mineral water cans have been the solitary source of drinking water for many, residents are now asking”If not this then what?”In this colony the tap water received from the Delhi Jal Board’s bore wells is so hard that it is almost undrinkable.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, February 6, 03, page 13

Pesticides in water can be lethal:
Pesticides found in samples of bottled mineral water in a random analysis conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment are known to be lethal to humans. But medical experts claim that research on impact of pesticides if consumed over a long period of time is still lacking.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, February 6, 03, page 13

Govt to probe bottled water contamination
Government on Wednesday announced a high-level probe into alleged presence of deadly pesticides in various brands of bottled drinking water, saying the matter is "disturbing and very serious".
"There will be a high-level inquiry into the news reports about deadly pesticides found in packaged drinking water manufactured by leading companies", Consumer Affairs and Food Minister Sharad Yadav said in New Delhi.
Describing as disturbing the findings of the random analysis conducted by an NGO, the Minister said he has already asked Consumer Affairs Secretary Wazahat Habibullah to take immediate steps for initiating the probe at the earliest.
The inquiry panel would be required to look into the matter in a comprehensive manner and submit its report within a stipulated time frame, he said, adding "the Government wants to ascertain the facts fully".
Modalities for the investigation are being worked out and certain important facts have been obtained from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which lays down regulations, norms and standards for packaged water.
The NGO - Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) - has claimed that during a random analysis, bottled drinking water of different brands in Delhi and Mumbai were found to be highly contaminated with deadly pesticides posing serious health hazards.
Yadav said the Government would take prompt measures to get to the bottom of the matter and safeguard the interests of the consumers.

Press Trust of India, New Delhi, February 5, 03

Pesticides in bottled water
Residues of extremely harmful pesticides have been founding popular brands of bottled water sold in Delhi and Mumbai. The pesticides identified are lindane, DDT, chlorpyrifos and malathion. They collect in the body over the years and cause cancer, attack the nervous system and weaken the immune system. The study has been conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)

Times Of India, Delhi, February 05, 03 – Page No: 1

BIS norms met, say firms
Bottled water brands covered under the CSE’s (Centre for Science and Environment) study broadly stuck to the point that they meet the norms of BIS, the government body responsible for ensuring quality of water. According to Coca- Cola (which sells Kinley brand), pesticide residue in ground water in India is a national problem. Bisleri chairman Ramesh Chauhan was not aware of the study.

Times Of India, Delhi, February 05,03 – Page No : 1

Pesticide residues in bottled water
The ISI mark on bottled water was a mark of surety for those who bought one for Rs 10 per litre. But the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) showed that there was presence of dangerous pesticide residues in the bottles. So why couldn’t the companies detect the way the NGO did? ‘Either the companies did not want to disclose, or they perhaps did not find it’, said CSE director Sunita Narain.

Times Of India, Delhi, February 05, 03 – Page No : 5

McDowell & Coca-Cola rule out drinking water contamination
Coca-Cola and McDowell ruled out any contamination of their products saying these had been produced under rigorous quality control regime meeting all standards set by government. The NGO, Centre for Science and Environment, has said that a random analysis of bottled water of various brands were found to be highly contaminated with deadly pesticides posing serious health hazards.

The Economic Times, Delhi, February 05, 03 – Page No : 11

Watch before you drink
The packaged/mineral water safe for drinking? A study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) says that most of the brands of packaged/mineral water available in the country contain pesticides – several of them banned – significantly higher than permissible limits, which can cause serious physical impairment ranging from damage to the central nervous system to lung cancer.

Business Standard, Delhi, February 05, 03 – Page No : 1

What about water?
A report in ‘Down to Earth’ says tests conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on packaged drinking water showed dangerously high levels of pesticide residue. Among known brands, Aquaplus – favoured by the railways – had 104 times the acceptable residue level; Bisleri 79 times; and Kinley 14.6 times;

The Hindustan Times, Delhi, February 05, 03 – Page No : 1

Bottled claims don’t hold water
For health freaks out there, it’s time to get rid of their mineral water bottles. In the light of what the Centre for Science and Environment declared today, consumers aren’t really ‘drinking safe’ but rather living dangerously. The organisation claimed that bottled mineral water, far from being pure, was a deadly cocktail of pesticide residues. The CSE’s findings are based on samples of 17 brands of mineral water collected from various places in Delhi and Ghaziabad. According to the director, CSE, Ms Sunita Narain, the samples were found having pesticide residues upto 36.4 times the prescribed level of 0.0001. She said the samples were collected from borewells and other water sources, used by manufacturing companies as raw material sources.

The Statesman, New Delhi, February 05, 03 page-1

Pro- green body detects pesticide residues in bottled water
A study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment, a pro-green organisation, has put most of the big daddies of the Rs 1,000 crore bottled water segment in the dock for containing “a deadly cocktail of pesticide residues”. After analysing 17 brands of packaged drinking water in Delhi and 13 brands from Mumbai, the CSE lab found that most of the samples contained as much as five different pesticide residues, in levels far exceeding the standards specified safe, Ms Sunita Narain, director, CSE, told newspersons on Tuesday. From packaged drinking water to packaged natural mineral water and from “not so popular” Voga, Prime, Paras brands to the “top five brands” including Bisleri, Bailley, Aquafina and Kinley all were put under the microscope by the CSE’s Pollution Monitoring Laboratory.

Business Line, New Delhi, February 5, 03 p-5

No minerals here. But There is pesticide in your bottled water!
The Pollution Monitoring Laboratory of the Centre for Science and Environment, recently conducted a study on pesticides in bottled mineral water and found that almost all brands were heavily contaminated. The study was conducted in two metros Delhi and Mumbai. As many as 17 packaged drinking water brands from Delhi and 13 brands from Mumbai were tested for this purpose. The laboratory tested for two types of pesticides Organochlorine and Organophosphorus. The findings were apalling. “The source water, especially in North India used for the purpose is absolutely horrible and I Can’t use a better word for it”, thunders Ms Sunita Narain director, CSE.

The Financial Express, New Delhi February 05, 03 page 5

Mineral water is impure, bottled water can be poisonous
If you are drinking mineral water thinking it to be pure, then you are making a big mistake because with water you are taking in “a deadly cocktail of pesticide residues”. You can be victim of cancer, and other diseases in kidney, liver and nervous system. A study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment, a pro-green organisation, has put most of the big daddies of the Rs 1,000 crore bottled water segment in the dock. After analysing 17 brands of packaged drinking water in Delhi and 13 brands from Mumbai, the CSE lab found that most of the samples contained as much as five different pesticide residues, in levels far exceeding the standards specified safe, Ms Sunita Narain, director, CSE, told newspersons on Tuesday. From packaged drinking water to packaged natural mineral water and from “not so popular” Voga, Prime, Paras brands to the “top five brands” including Bisleri, Bailley, Aquafina and Kinley all were put under the microscope by the CSE’s Pollution Monitoring Laboratory.

Rashtriya Sahara, February 05, 03 page-1

Mineral water is not pure
There is a bad news for health conscious consumers buying expensive mineral water. It contains a deadly cocktail of pesticide residues. This has been revealed by a study done by CSE, a Delhi based NGO. As many as 17 packaged drinking water brands from Delhi and 13 brands from Mumbai were tested for this purpose. According to the laboratory test they found residues of pesticides in the samples. There is a bad news for health conscious consumers buying expensive mineral water. It contains a deadly cocktail of pesticide residues. This has been revealed by a study done by CSE, a Delhi based NGO. As many as 17 packaged drinking water brands from Delhi and 13 brands from Mumbai were tested for this purpose. According to the laboratory test they found residues of pesticides in the samples. There is a bad news for health conscious consumers buying expensive mineral water. It contains a deadly cocktail of pesticide residues. This has been revealed by a study done by CSE, a Delhi based NGO. As many as 17 packaged drinking water brands from Delhi and 13 brands from Mumbai were tested for this purpose. According to the laboratory test they found residues of pesticides in the samples. There is a bad news for health conscious consumers buying expensive mineral water. It contains a deadly cocktail of pesticide residues. This has been revealed by a study done by CSE, a Delhi based NGO. As many as 17 packaged drinking water brands from Delhi and 13 brands from Mumbai were tested for this purpose. According to the laboratory test they found residues of pesticides in the samples.

Navbharat times, February 05, 03 page-1

Bottled water can also be poisonous:
According to a study conducted by CSE, drinking bottled water can be a cause of cancer, and other diseases in kidney, liver and nervous system. As many as 17 packaged drinking water brands from Delhi and 13 brands from Mumbai were tested for this purpose

Amar Ujala, February 05, 03 page 2

Poisoned packaged water
The Pollution Monitoring Laboratory of the Centre for Science and Environment, recently conducted a study on pesticides in bottled mineral water and found that almost all brands were heavily contaminated. The study was conducted in two metros Delhi and Mumbai. As many as 17 packaged drinking water brands from Delhi and 13 brands from Mumbai were tested for this purpose. The laboratory tested for two types of pesticides organochlorine and Organophosphorus.

Jansatta, February 5, 03 page-3

1. Pesticides found in bottled water:
Analysis of 17 brands of packaged drinking water sold in and around Delhi and 13 brands from the Mumbai region by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found as many as five different pesticide residues in the samples, Ms Sunita Narain, Director CSE, told reporters today. “The study done between July 2002 and January 2003 on randomly selected samples of different brands found that they had pesticide level far exceeding standards specified as safe for drinking water,” Ms Sunita Narain said

The Tribune, New Delhi, February 5, 03, page 20

2. A cocktail of pesticides in mineral water bottles:
Mineral water bottles may contain a cocktail of pesticides, if the findings of a study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment are to be believed.The CSE’s Pollution Monitoring Laboratory (PML) analysed 17 brands in the national Capital and 13 brands sold in street-corner shops in Mumbai.The results showed that almost all of these contained five different pesticide residues harmful to health and far exceeding the specified standards for drinking water. CSE Director, Ms. Sunita Narain pointed out that the concentration levels of pesticide residues ranged from 79 times to 104 times.

The Tribune, New Delhi, February 5, 03, page 1sp

3. Think before you sip that poison:
According to a shocking new study, tests carried out by the Pollution Monitoring Laboratory of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) have revealed that samples of almost all water bottles available in Delhi ---except one imported from France –contained a deadly cocktail of pesticide residues.

The Hindu, New Delhi, February 5, 03, page 1

4. BIS norms vague, says CSE:
The revelation by the reputed Centre for Science and Environment that bottled water contains high quantity of pesticides has put a serious question mark over the reputation of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).Regulations framed by the BIS for packaged water are weak and vague, it said.

The Hindu, New Delhi, February 5, 03, page 4

5. ‘Bottled water: Poison in each sip’:
Leading bottled water brands in the Capital contain a deadly cocktail of pesticide residues, a report by the Centre for Science and Environment(CSE) has said.The pesticides found by CSE are Lindane (proved to cause breast cancer), DDT (in 70 per cent of Delhi’s samples), Chlorpyrifos (cause foetal malformations) and Malathion (damage the nervous system).CSE said its tests showed that Bisleri, the marker leader, had 79 times higher concentration of pesticide residues than allowed.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, February 5, 03, page 1sp

Flood of support for river plan: Prabhu:
The work on at least one component of the massive project to interlink rivers in the country would begin by this year end, according to Suresh Prabhu, Chairman, Task Force on Interlinking of Rivers. "Once the detailed project report is ready we hope to commence work in phases," he told reporters. The linking pf rivers would be undertaken on a regional basis.

The New Indian Express, Chennai, 4, February 2, 03

Prabhu forsees end of water woes:
The feasibility report on the much awaited river linking project would be ready by 2005, said Suresh Prabhu, former Union energy minister and chairman of the Task Force on linking of river waters. Known as a hard task master, Prabhu has been on a mission to convince and prepare the nation for the costliest ever infrastructure development project worth Rs 5.6 lakh crore.

Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad, 13, February 1, 03

Assam won’t allow river-linking till PM finds flood respite:
The ambitious Rs 5.6 trillion river inter-linking project announced by the Vajpayee government has generated a lot of heat in Assam with politicians and NGOs saying that it would do more harm than bring respite from recurrent floods. Leading the campaign is the Opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which has already announced its decision to constitute an expert committee to study the possible impact of the project in the state.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, 6, January 31, 03

Experts raise doubts about river-linking project:
Water management experts have expressed doubts about the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee`s ambitious project of inter-linking of rivers to solve the problem of regional imbalance of water in the country. At the end of a three-day workshop on "Frontline Issues in Water and Land Management and Policy" held under the auspices of the Colombo-based International Water Management Institute (IWMI) here on Wednesday, Tushaar Shah, head of the IWMI-Tata Water Policy Programme, was doubtful whether the project would be a practical solution to the complex problems. He said his team was yet to go into the cost-benefit ratio and pros and cons but, on the face of it, the project did not appear practical. Besides entailing huge costs — over Rs. 5,70,00,000 crores — it would need a long gestation period of about 40 years by which the priority and requirement of the country could change.

The Hindu, New Delhi, 9, January 31, 03, New Delhi, 9, January 31, 03, New Delhi, 9, January 31, 03, New Delhi, 9, January 31, 03

Link-up plan aimed at routing water to dry states :
Brindabon: The Central Government’s plan to interlink the rivers, including the Brahmaputra, is poised to snowball into major controversy in Assam with the AGP and other regional parties opposing the move, terming it a deep-rooted conspiracy to deprive the people of the State their due share of water. Addressing a press conference here today, AGP president Brindabon Goswami said that though the party does not want to politicize the issue, it is smelling a rat in the proposal of interlinking the rivers.

The Sentinel, Guwahati, 1, January 30, 03

Medha Patkar calls for equitable water policy:
Inter-linking of rivers will not benefit the nation as it would result in the centralisation of water resources and lead to the entry of multinationals and the private sector which would ultimately exploit the rivers for their own benefit, said Medha Patkar, environmentalist and national co-ordinator of the National Alliance of Peoples Movement (NAPM).

The New Indian Express, Kochi, 3, January 26, 03

Water bodies choke to death:
A signboard warns people not to drop garbage in the pond located off Aruna Asaf Ali Marg near Vasant Kunj. And they don’t. It’s only trucks that have been dumpign the rubble of construction material in the middle of the water body. As a result, ‘islands’ of concrete have bifurcated the place. In the same pond, a sewer line pumps in untreated sewage from nearby buildings. According to Centre for Science and Environment, urban wetlands are indispensable to the existence of Indian cities. They help in the storage of rainwater, help supply water for domestic and agricultural use, recharge groundwater, serve as flood cushions, and act as a resource recovery area that treats impurities that enter these water bodies.

Times of India, January 24, 2003

Metallic poison:
Certain metallic contaminants (arsenic, mercury, nickel, lead, antimony, cadmium, chromium, etc) in different food items accumulate in body tissues and thereby produce illness. Green leafy vegetables have been found to contain lead, chromium, arsenic, mercury and nickel. Turmeric samples contained arsenic,cadmium and lead. In India, caustic soda, and chlorine producing units have been causing high levels of mercury poisoning. The Centre for Science and Environment has reported that around 60-70 tonnes of mercury is released in the atmosphere every year.

The Statesman, New Delhi, January 22, 2003, Page No. 8

Environment
Going beyond protection:
By Sunita Narain
It has been a year since environmentalist Anil Agarwal passed away. His ideas changed many around the world. He changed the way we think. But he also left behind some unfinished business. His ideas have changed policies, but not practices-not as much as his restless energies desired to. For instance, he made us understand that economists often missed the real measure of poverty. We need to understand poverty not as a lack of cash, but as a lack of access to natural resources.

Business Standard, New Delhi, January 21, 2003

Dams, water resources & traditional water harvesting systems
Heritage Week ends with a call to preserve water:
A presentation on urban water management marked the conclusion of the Jaipur Heritage Week, on Jan 20. The presentation was held by the Jaipur Virasat Foundation, in collaboration with the Centre for Science and Environment, to discuss the water crisis faced by the State. The presentation was followed by a focussed discussion on urban water management at Badal Mahal.

The Hindustan Times, Jaipur, January 21, 2003

Living Resources
Kids for tiger:
Tiger, tiger Burning Bright in the forest of the Night…” Well, William Blake didn’t compose these lines for nothing as the tiger is much more than our national animal. It represents the nation’s hope to reverse the fragile ecology. And what better way to spread this message than to involve children? Based on these ideologies is the programme “Kids for Tiger”… intiated by sanctuary in collaboration with Britannia and implemented by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage since 1999 by collecting one million signatures in support of the tiger from various schools across the country. Starting in New Delhi on Jan 17 is a two day “Tiger Mela 2003” at Army Public School in Dhaula Kuan. Over 1 lakh children representing 120 schools from all over the Capital have actively participated in the programme and have been involved with issues of nature and wildlife conservation. The focus of the “kids for Tigers” has been to help children grasp the vital connection between the survival of tiger and the country’s future ecological health. The Kids for Tiger festival is supported by Project Tiger and various state forest departments along with several NGOs like the Centre for Science and Environment.

The Hindu, New Delhi, January 17, 2003

For cleaner environs:
The Kalpavriksh Environment Action Group, as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, recently organised a lecture series to highlight the success story of environment and development initiatives. The series was organised in collaboration with India International Centre and Sanskriti Foundation. The presentations by the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Youthreach India and the Centre for Science Studies and Environment (CSSE) focussed on the "widespread but under-reported work" that communities, organisations and individuals are taking up to protect nature and natural resources, regenerate land and water, control pollution and ensure recycling.

The Pioneer, New Delhi, 2supp, January 16, 2003

Rebuilding the lives of Banjaras, Gujjars by Sunny Sebastian:
An island of prosperity in the making amidst scenes of drought is a cluster of villages along Udainath Ka Nala on the Ruparel river in the neighbourhood of the Project Tiger sanctuary, Sariska.A bone of bitter contention between the Irrigation Department of Rajasthan and the Tarun Bharat Sangh(TBS), the water conservation NGO led by Magsaysay Award winner, Rajendra Singh two years back when it was built, the earthen dam in Lava Ka Baas is helping to rebuild the lives of poor Banjaras and Gujjars here bit by bit.In July 2001, Rajendra Singh had to bring a host of experts and luminaries who include M.S. Swaminathan and the late Anil Agarwal, to the Rajasthan capital to plead the cause of the Lava Ka Baas dam, built with support of the people in the locality and the funds given by an industrialist of Rajasthani origin.

The Hindu, New Delhi, January 13, 2003

Saving fot the non-rainy Day by Lalitha Sridhar:
"It has always been clear to me that urban rainwater harvesting will require a strategy that has different components. We have to recognise that just passing a law is not enough. It has to be supported with a massive campaign for public awareness and with hard policy actions which provide incentives and disincentives for its effective implemntation.In this case the incentives will have to come in the form of fiscal measures which support households to capture their rain, and the disincentices in the from of pricing of water and supportive urban taxation policites."--Noted journalist Anil Agarwal. The visionary Anil Agarwal did famously describe water as everybody's business.

Business Line, New Delhi, January 13, 2003

NGOs criticise costly rain water harvesting designs:
Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), working towards promoting water conservation have expressed concern at the costly water harvesting designs offered by some agencies. The Delhi Government has launched a campaign to promote rainwater harvesting in a move to replenish the Capital's depleting groundwater resources. Recently at a seminar organised by the Delhi Jal Board, Chief Minister Sheila Dixit declared 2003 the year of "Conservation of Power and Water". While lauding the efforts of the State Government in this direction, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) expressed its concern on the high costs that are being quoted to set up the structures. "The cost factor will act as a major stumbling block," said Director CSE Sunita Narain. According to environmentalists the problem arose due to a handful of engineers and contractors who are using this drive to harvest money. Activist said that the myth of rainwater harvesting being extremely cost intensive can be explored by the citizens themselves by finding a cheaper and simpler alternative.

The Pioneer, New Delhi, January 03, 2003

Rain harvesters may get tax rebate
Rain harvesters may soon get relief in their property tax liability if the Central Ground Water Authority (GCWA) has its way. CGWA chairman J S Burjia said that the authority will ask all state governments, including Delhi's to extend rebate to eco-conscious citizens. Centre for Science and Environment director Sunita Narain opposed 'harvesting money' in the name of rain water harvesting. 'The myth that harvesting is costly has been exploded by people themselves who have installed the systems economically', she said.

TOI - Delhi - January 03, 02

Delhi inhales cleaner air now, says CPCB:
Experts say air pollutants are still above permissible limits but they are nowhere as high as previous years. Cleaner and greener fuels have brought about this drop. ‘‘The major difference has been in the levels of SO2 and CO at all our observation stations across Delhi. SO2 levels have dropped because the sulphur content in coal and the fuels has been reduced. The standard for SO2 is 80 microgram per cubic metre (mgpcm). For some time now, the average has been around 9-14 mgpcm,’’ said Dilip Biswas, chairman, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). CO levels in 2000 and 2001 were in the range of 9,000-11,000 mgpcm but are between 2,000-4,500 mgpcm now. ‘‘The cars on the roads have better technology but their number is too large. Delhi has 15 lakh two-wheelers, which are not very new. On the other hand, almost all autorickshaws have been converted to CNG, which has had its pay-offs,’’ said Sunita Narain, director, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

The Indian Express, New Delhi, January 02, 2003

Anil was always down to earth:
The Third Sat Paul Mittal Annual Award on population and environment was awarded to Anil Agarwal in October for the activities undertaken in the field of environment. He had already been honoured with the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan. Yet Agarwal was not there to receive the latest award. He passed away on January 2 last year after a seven-year battle against a rare form of blood cancer called lymphoma, caused by the very environmental pollutants he devoted his entire life to resist. He perceived his illness with a rare sense of detachment and wrote,‘My case is instructive as it represents the scale of the life threatening processes we inflict on us’. In 1980, Agarwal founded CSE (Centre for Science and Environment) which soon developed into a dynamic organisation that did pioneering work in environmental theorising and activism...editorial

The Indian Express - Delhi - January 01, 2003