(HT Correspondent),
Bokajan, Sept.12: Several residents of Bokajan in Karbi Anglong district have urged the authorities concerned to take stern action against two water plants, which have been selling contaminated water in packaged drinking water bottles in the district.
While one water plant is located near the CRPF camp in Bokajan and another is located at Balijan. The water used in these plants is reportedly pumped out directly from the ground and is packaged without undergoing the proper filtration process. The water is then packaged in 20 litre plastic bottles and sold in the local market.
The locals alleged that these bottles also do not have an Indian Standards Institution (ISI) mark. However, many ignorant buyers procure them and consume the contaminated water.
“The two water plants do not follow the necessary guidelines and safety measures while packaging drinking water. The ground water is pumped through a borewell and the water is filtered without properly filtering it. This makes the public who consume it, prone to various water borne diseases,” said a local resident of Bokajan.
“Those running the water plants also do not have the necessary permission or other valid documents from the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) authority that are required for installing these plants,” he further said.
The locals of the surrounding villages have urged MAC of Bokajan, Madhurjya Dhekiyal Phukon and executive member (EM), of KAAC Surjya Rongphar and deputy speaker of Assam Legislative Assembly and MLA Bokajan, Numol Momin to intervene into the matter and initiate necessary action against these plants.
The locals also urged the public health engineering department to carry out inspection of these plants.
