51 water firms resume operation

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Chennai: Officials of Tamil Na­du Po­llution Control Board the Food Saf­e­ty and Standards Au­thority of India are on ‘water mission’. Th­ey have begun tes­t­­ing  water samples fr­om packaged water firms across the state for microbiological and chemical analysis.
 
The test is being done as per the directive of National Gr­een Tribunal in May 2013 on a suo moto case filed over quality of packaged water sold by firms in Ch­ennai and elsewhere in the state. As the court has sought a comprehensive rep­o­rt on water firms on July 2,  the officials are on their toes to collect sample, test them and prepare results.
 
Water samples have been tested in 91 fir­ms in Che­n­nai. Only 51 firms, which clea­red the tests, resu­med sales this week. The court asked TN­PCB and FSSAI tea­ms to lift samples for the second time from 34 fi­rms that failed the first test and en­quire about six other firms, which had clo­sed down their units on their own,  and submit a final report along with the state­wide study in July.
 
TNPCB officials said  po­wer supply had been res­tored for fir­ms, which pa­ssed the tests. “We will allow electricity supply for 34 firms for 24 hours to take samples. Th­en the un­its will re­main closed until the further orders from the green court,” th­ey said. 
 
Deputy director of health services of FS­SAIE. Lak­shmi Nar­ayanan told DC that two samples would be taken from each unit for testing. The license of the firms and the quality of the water in each unit will also verified.
 
Three water firms in Ch­ennai, which got the green signal from the national gr­een tribunal have started their business. Meanwhile the Tamil Nadu pollution control board offi­cials are on their toes for the headco­unt of water firms across the state for a statewide report whi­ch should be submitted before the court on July 2.