Tamil Nadu: Packaged water makers on indefinite strike over crackdown on units

Chennai: The acute water shortage in the city is expected to worsen as the Greater Tamil Nadu Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers Association, which supplies more than 1.60 crore litres of water per day, declared an indefinite strike on Sunday.

“Thirty-three licensed units in Madhavaram were shut down recently and several companies in Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram received a notice to stop drawing ground water as the levels have receded. We only take the water for the benefit of the public and the authorities do this to us,” said A. Shakespeare, Founder Chairman of Greater TN Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers Association. He added that GST has imposed 18% tax on the bubble tops as opposed to no tax earlier. “The cost will escalate by Rs 15, so a bottle would cost Rs 55-60 after July 1,” he said.

The members of the association have appealed for a meeting with the govt and the strike will only be lifted when the officials meet their demands (permission to draw water and waive off GST). Shakespeare rued that the association has always met standards of quality and were seldom found guilty in the frequent checks conducted by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

Due to this, the city will witness an increase in the price of the bubbletops, like in 2013 when the workers went on a two-day strike for a similar reason and public had to shell out extra cash.

The prices are expected to be hiked by at least Rs 20 to 30 per bubble top.