Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru 

Mangaluru, Oct 27: This is shocking news for all those who use packaged mineral water. Daijiworld, in its sting operation, has uncovered a scam where mineral water tanks at the factories are filled with water directly from municipality water taps. Then they are sent in bottles to the market as packaged drinking or mineral water.

The operation also revealed that there is nothing like pure or added minerals in these bottles. During the week-long operation, it also came to light that more than eight unlicensed ‘water purifying plants’ in the city are throwing all norms to winds and are supplying polluted water that affects people’s health in a big way.

Images captured by hidden cameras

To expose the fake water purifying plants and bring awareness among public, a special undercover team from Daijiworld, in the name of clients, visited some unlicensed water purifying plant premises.

During the first day of the sting operation, an owner of a plant declined to deal with the team as the team members were strangers to him.

But subsequent contacts with this owner made him confident to deal with the team, which helped Daijiworld to expose the racket.

Soon after the visit, the water purifying plant owner confessed that he has unlicensed dealers all over the district and runs his business illegally. He said that up to 1,000 bottles of 20 litres having different brand labels with fake ISI mark on them are sold every day.

During the operation, the hidden camera from Daijiworld captured the video of how water from normal taps is filled into bottles. Drivers from different places come to this place with bottles of various prominent brands and get the water filled in these bottles, which is later sold in the markets. One bottle costs Rs 25 and in market it is sold at Rs 70.

The owner revealed that majority of catering companies and hotels are associated with them and they use these bottles.

In order to hide from public and also from government officials, these companies run their illegal business before 6 am in the morning and after 7 pm.

They only sell water to those people who possess authorised ID cards and visiting cards of certain brands.

The place, which Daijiworld team visited, where water was being filled, is in pathetic condition with a lot of muck next to the tap which is completely unhygienic.

In case any customer demands water bottles with any particular brand, they also provide the same.

This has turned out to be a big scam in the city as there are more chances of such illegal businesses coming up during summer. Such scams can bring nightmare to the public from the health point of view.

Due to such scams, problems are being created for those who run legal water purifying business which may create huge losses to them and may also tarnish the image of certain prominent water brands. The health department, district administration and concerned officials should act against such companies for the welfare of the people.

Watch sting operation: