Taking a serious view of the reports on the alleged presence of deadly pesticides in various brands of bottled drinking water, the government on Wednesday ordered a high-level investigation into the matter.

The four-member enquiry committee headed by additional secretary in the consumer affairs department, Satwant Kaur Reddy, has been asked to submit its report within three weeks.

Describing as disturbing the claim made by an NGO about pesticide found during analysis of bottled water, Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Yadav ordered the probe into alleged inadequacies in packaged drinking and mineral water, which is sold after certification by Bureau of Indian Standards.

The enquiry panel would look into the adequacy of standards for packaged drinking water and natural mineral water, besides probing whether the standards are being properly enforced by the BIS in case the standards are adequate.

The committee would further look into the testing facilities available with the BIS besides examining the status of alignment of standards for packaged drinking water and natural mineral water with current international standards, an official statement said.

Another term of reference of the panel is linkage of BIS standards with Prevention of Food Adulteration Act under which packaged drinking water and natural mineral water have been made mandatory and suggest remedial measures in case of inadequacies.

Apart from the chairperson, the committee would comprise director (BIS) in consumer affairs department, an official from the health ministry and a scientist.

Describing as disturbing the findings of the random analysis conducted by a non-governmental organisation, the minister said he has already asked Consumer Affairs Secretary Wazahat Habibullah to take immediate steps for initiating the probe at the earliest.

The inquiry panel would be required to look into the matter in a comprehensive manner and submit its report within a stipulated time frame, he said adding, "The government wants to ascertain the facts fully."

Modalities for the investigation are being worked out and certain important facts have been obtained from the Bureau of Indian Standards, which lays down regulations, norms and standards for packaged water.

The NGO, Centre for Science and Environment, has claimed that during a random analysis, bottled drinking water of different brands in New Delhi and Mumbai were found to be highly contaminated with deadly pesticides posing serious health hazards.

Yadav said the government would take prompt measures to get to the bottom of the matter and safeguard the interests of the consumers.

BIS officials said they would study the report brought out by the CSE before making any comments.

The CSE in its report has claimed that the analyses of 17 brands of packaged drinking water sold in and around Delhi and 13 brands from Mumbai region were found to have as many as five different residues in the samples.

However, some leading mineral water manufacturers ruled out any contamination of their products saying these had been produced under rigorous quality control regime meeting all standards and norms laid down by the government.

They said drinking bottled water is produced under rigorous quality control regime and undergoes a six-stage treatment during manufacturing process.

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