Hyderabad: The mineral water plants lobby in the districts has launched a campaign against Mission Bhagiratha, fearing losses once drinking water reaches all households through taps later this year.
The lobby is spreading the word that Mission Bhagiratha water can be used only for chores like washing clothes, cleaning homes and utensils and is not for drinking because it has chemicals and is not purified.
The state government has asked officials to conduct awareness programmes among the public against the false propaganda.
With no reliable drinking water supply, about 25,000 mineral water plants have mushroomed all over the state and are doing brisk business. About 90 per cent of them are set up without approval from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
Over 4,000 units are located in Ranga Reddy district and the city outskirts alone. Their estimated annual turnover is pegged at Rs 10,000 crore.
Hundreds of auto trolleys make the rounds every day to supply mineral water. With the commencement of Mission Bhagiratha, water is likely to reach all households by August-September and the mineral water plants lobby is worried over losing its business.
Asked about the lobyying, Mission Bhagiratha vice-chairman Vemula Prashanth Reddy said it had come to their notice that some mineral water plant representatives were trying to create apprehension about the Mission Bhagiratha and were resorting to false propaganda about the purity and safety of the water.
“We are trying to reach out to all the towns and villages and inform how mineral water plants are supplying impure water without following any standard procedures,” he said.
All the panchayat raj officials have been asked to hold awareness programmes.
