Ahmedabad: Who is responsible and accountable to the unsuspecting consumers being fooled by racketeers who are peddling illegally ISI marked 'packaged drinking water? Is it Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) who issues ISI license for packaged drinking water plants if they comply with the prescribed standards? Or is it the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), whose failure to provide quality, safe drinking water forces consumers to buy packaged water? Or is it a full fledged state government arm called consumer affairs department, which is funded by tax payers money to ensure protection of consumer's interest? Director, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Sunita Narain says, "People are forced to buy packaged drinking water for their domestic requirement is a clear indictment' of municipal services. As this points out that the quality of wafer provided by municipal services is not good enough and acceptable to the people." "The problem is that customers are being taken for a ride by racketeers. In 1998, government made ISI mandatory for packaged drinking water. But TOI exposed that even after that the problem exists," says senior director Consumer Education & Research Centre (CERC), Pritee Shah. "It is a clear enforcement issue. BIS issues certification and has to ensure that no one without certification is allowed to sell packaged drinking water," adds Narain. But then leave aside the fake products, even the original ones too sometimes fail to pass the laboratory tests. Of the 10 popular brands tested at ATIRA's biological testing laboratory recently, a leading brand of mineral water is said to have tested positive for 'indicator organisms'. Considering the medical waste scam already plaguing the state, if you thought that the consumer affairs department would play a proac-tive role in protecting your interests, you are sadly mistaken. Says principal secretary, consumer affairs, Rajesh Kishore," If its a consumer issue, then a criminal investigation and proceedings would have to be done by the Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA). Also in case anyone wants to claim damages the consumer court has to be approached." Lay your water jar fears to rest with a test If you are still wondering what those innocuous looking packaged water jars contain in them, here is how you can lay your concerns to rest. There are at least two dedicated laboratories in the city, where you can take water samples from your these jars and get them tested for free or for a paltry fee. Environmental department of CEPT University tests water samples for non-commercial purposes for free. The contact person at CEPT is Beena Patel. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's public health laboratory in VS Hospital campus tests water samples for just Rs 20