The Malda district food safety department conducted raids on drinking water packaging units in Englishbazar, Old Malda and Habibpur blocks on Wednesday.

Units which were found packaging water of inferior quality in plastic jars and without conforming to safety standards were sealed.

“Altogether, 11 such units have been sealed. Four are in Englishbazar, five in Old Malda and two in Habibpur,” Malda district magistrate Nitin Singhania said.

As traces of arsenic are found in water in many areas of the district, several residents buy packaged water. The steady demand led to the mushrooming of over 100 water packaging units in the district.

“However, in the past few months, complaints were pouring in from different ends that a section of units was packaging and selling unfiltered water. There was information that illegal packaging units had opened in some parts of the district. The complaints made us initiate a probe,” said a source in the administration.

The authorities tested water samples as part of the probe and found the allegations to be true. With the assistance of the Malda Merchant Chamber of Commerce, the officials identified unauthorised water packaging units.

“It is a serious offence as regular consumption of poor quality water can lead to serious health hazards,” said an official.

After details were collected, the case was handed over to the district food safety department which conducted raids in association with police on Wednesday.

District food safety officer Prashanta Baidik, along with his team and the police, inspected a number of water packaging units and found that most didn’t have necessary permission.

“More importantly, the water source, the filtration methods and other parameters which confirm that the water sold for drinking is safe didn’t match at these units,” said a member of the team.

“A litre of packaged water is sold between Rs 15 and Rs 20 and in some cases, a retailer is offered even 50 per cent commission. The consumers believe that the packaged water is pure. But the truth is that tap water is packaged, labelled and sold,” he added.

The officials were surprised to find that even minimum hygiene practices were not maintained at the units.

The DM said: “We will not allow such illegal practices. Along with the water-packaging units, raids will be conducted on restaurants and other eateries. In case any violation of food safety rules and standards is found, we will take suitable legal steps.”