Straight Answers

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Uttam Khobragade</span>, Director, state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) On recent raids on mineral water plants.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">In light of the recent raids on bottled water plants, how will you ensure that manufacturers maintain a certain standard?</span><br /><br />The recent raid on the Bisleri plant is not a selective one.All bottled water plants are on our list. After our raid, the company has demolished the nearby toilet, has undertaken cleaning of the tank and is locking it properly. But we will again check the plant to verify their claims. Periodical checks are a must to ensure that the companies don''t return to their earlier ways.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Has a First Information Report (FIR) against the manager of the plant been filed?</span><br /><br />Now that they have taken several steps to upgrade the standard, and have assured us good water, we are not filing an FIR immediately. But we will see if we can prosecute erring officials under FDA rules. We are again going to check the Pepsi plant at Raigad, which we raided some time ago. We can take action as per the rules.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Impure mineral water, pesticides in colas, etc, have disheartened consumers. What do you have to say about their fear?</span><br /><br />I can''t say that they are safe. There is no final report confirming their purity available yet. But they are not that dangerous now.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Several times, your officials have been accused of being hand-in-glove with manufacturing companies and eating joints, including sweet stalls. How will you keep a check on this?</span><br /><br />After I took over, I have changed the staff. Besides, we have a vigilance wing to keep an eye on other officials involved in the raids. We also cross-check various raids conducted by our officials.</div> </div>