00:00All right, with that, I'm taking you to the other big story that demands your attention today.
00:05Package drinking water is something we consume every day, trusting that it is safe, it is pure.
00:10But a major crackdown in Uttar Pradesh has raised serious concerns over the quality of water being sold to consumers.
00:17The state's Food Safety and Drug Administrator has tested 242 samples of package drinking and mineral water.
00:24146 out of those 242 were found substandard.
00:28While 57 were declared just unsafe in the microbiological testing.
00:35Following these results, the department has now ordered suspension of food licensing and image at halt of production at units
00:42linked to unsafe samples.
00:44The problem is also spread across the state.
00:46Unsafe samples have been reported in 39 districts of Uttar Pradesh, with Ghaziabad, Haapur recording the highest numbers of all
00:55these dixtres which have been looked into.
00:58Gautam Bhutnagar in Ayodhya reported three unsafe samples each.
01:03Now, the laboratory reports detected harmful microorganisms, including E. coli, coliform bacteria, yeast and mold radiant concerns about contamination and
01:14potential risk to public health.
01:16Remember, if you were to consume water, assuming it is mineral water, assuming it is packaged clean water and all
01:23of these enter, you will fall sick.
01:25Now, also remember, the manufacturers have been ordered the first address of deficiencies and they have to then get five
01:33batches of their products tested.
01:35And with each batch comprising 100,000 bottles, production can resume only after the samples meet the prescribed quality standards.
01:44They have been ordered to first address this matter.
01:47The rules are different for units where samples were found substandard.
01:51These manufacturers have been given one week to correct the deficiencies and must get three batches tested to demonstrate improvement.
01:59In both the cases, officials will physically inspect the premises to verify the compliance.
02:05Units that failed to improve despite being given the prescribed opportunity could face legal action under Food Safety and Standards
02:13Act of 2026.
02:14The crackdown follows an order that was issued on the 31st Megaparton on the 13th of October by the FSA
02:21commissioner, Dr. Roshan Jacob,
02:24who stressed that contamination in drinking water possesses the direct threat to public health and determines consumer confidence.
02:32All of this, if one can call, is actually a mundane effect of sorts going on.
02:38Samarth Shivastav, who's been tracking this story and reports from Lucknow, joins us for more on this.
02:43Samarth Shivastav, this is what a mundane effect is, because we've seen that mundane, Mumbai, Maharashtra, everywhere we go to
02:51check the standards.
02:53If you get a fly, you get a notice, you get a notice, restaurants, etc.
02:57We know that we both are in UP, we know how much contamination is happening, how much it is in
03:04the food in every way.
03:05And the water, which means that we are living in the water, and the water that we are drinking, and
03:11the water that we are drinking,
03:11the water that we are not drinking, we are thinking that it is safe, that there is a lot of
03:15contamination that is coming out.
03:17Somewhere I am happy that in UP, at least, there is a surge in the water, but importantly, it is
03:22sustained or not.
03:23We are listening to Jacob a lot of time, that he is active, and some people have said that he
03:32is doing a lot of work in Uttar Pradesh.
03:34So, what kind of trend is this happening in Uttar Pradesh?
03:40Well, Sonam, you are right, if you talk about this particular crackdown by UPF, SDA, it's a big crackdown.
03:46A total of 242 samples were collected, out of which 146 samples were found, substandard of those packaged drinking water.
03:53And out of that, shockingly, more than 50 samples were found, around 57, which were exactly harmful for those who
03:59were drinking that packaged drinking water.
04:02I will repeat, packaged drinking water.
04:04When we travel around, and we even report, or some tourists move around, when they purchase a 20 rupees or
04:1030 rupees packaged water,
04:11they feel they are having the mineral water from that particular shop.
04:15But if you are in UP, that is not the case.
04:17And that's why it all started with the IGRS complaint that was found by the FSDN.
04:22Later, inspections, random inspections happened across various districts of Uttar Pradesh.
04:27Chandali, in a way, has the most number of these particular things.
04:30See, we have to understand, 51 samples are there, which were found unsafe.
04:35Many microorganisms were found in those particular samples, which were harmful for their health.
04:39It's very risky for those who had, who drunk, that particular samples, in a way, in the form of a
04:45drinking, packaged drinking water.
04:48One, another thing is very important out here, is 146 samples have been found substandard.
04:52Those have been given notices to improve the quality, unless their license will be, in a way, removed.
04:59Second thing, of those samples which were found harmful or unsafe, those licenses have already been removed.
05:05And as you just mentioned about the IAS officer, Commissioner of FSDA, Roshan Jakob, that's the truth.
05:10She has been very active across various departments around.
05:13And now, from the time she has been here in the FSDA, we have seen a lot of actions, not
05:18just of this particular drinking water.
05:19Before, we have seen medicines, substandard medicines were found even in the government hospitals, we reported,
05:25where actions were taken by FSDA under Roshan Jakob.
05:27So, it's a good thing.
05:28But the point is that they have to, in a way, strengthen this particular action, because still, there are many
05:33places where these kind of bottles are being supplied.
05:36Back to you.
05:37All right.
05:38So, who exactly is, you know, manufacturing these bottles?
05:42One has to really understand.
05:43And also, good tip for viewers to know, not all water is mineral water.
05:47Mineral water is something else.
05:48This is just packaged clean water.
05:49Please get that difference when you purchase your next bottle and always check for that ceiling as well.
05:54Thanks, Amart, for joining us with the very latest.
