Sudden ‘ban’ on bottled water impacts public

TURA: The West Garo Hills district administration’s move to ban certain plastic items, particularly the sale of bottled water packaged, is having a serious impact on the public who are facing difficulties in the search for clean drinking water.
Health officials are also questioning the rationale behind the decision to go for a total ban without putting in place alternative solutions and expressed worry that there could be a spike in water borne diseases, particularly diarrhea and dysentery, as people consume untreated water.
While DC Ram Singh has denied banning the sale of bottled water by maintaining that the public were taking it upon themselves to do their bid in eradicating the plastic problem, not all are buying into the story. Traders and shopkeepers who spoke to The Shillong Times on anonymity alleged that the order from the DC clearly mentioned a ban on the sale of bottled water with a threat of Rs 5000 fine on violators. (Contd on P-5)