Government set to launch a market surveillance programme to curb sale of fake packaged water

NEW DELHI: To cut down sale of packaged drinking water with fake ISI marks or those which do not comply with safety standards, the government is set to launch a market surveillance programme in big cities by deploying engineering college students.

"We can act against violators only when we get inputs from the market. While consumers send complaints to us, there is a need to have our own mechanism. The students will be provided training for this," director general of Bureau of Indian Standards ( BIS) M J Joseph told TOI.

Not specifying the date of the launch, Joseph said after getting input their officials will swing into action. "We will conduct raids and confiscate such products. That will prove a deterrent," he added.

Regarding action which the BIS can take for non-standard water bottles being sold in the market, Joseph said it is the task of the state governments to monitor it.

However, to encourage more people to lodge complaints regarding any product, BIS is set to launch a dedicated number which will automatically record the complaints. All such complaints will be reviewed and action would be initiated.

"We are confident of the Parliament passing the consumer law and the amendment to BIS Act, which envisages stricter penalty on violators including class suit," Joseph said. The amendments have provisions for recall of all sold products and paying damage charges.

Joseph said they will expand the ambit of market surveillance to cover more products, mainly which are hugely consumed such as electric and LED bulbs.