The Kerala government has announced a price ceiling for bottled water being sold across the state, after recognising it as an 'essential commodity'.
The cap for bottled water which now has a retail price of Rs 20 per litre will be fixed at Rs 13.
Apart from the price regulation, the government has decided to make BIS water quality standards mandatory for all bottled water brands to weed out illegal manufacturers.
The decision to fix a price cap was taken during an audit on bottled drinking water manufacturers.
In 2018, at a meeting convened between the state government and these manufacturers, it was decided to fix the price ceiling at Rs 12 per litre.
However, this decision could not be implemented as it was opposed by a few players
The Kerala Essential Articles Control Act, 1986 (13 of 1986) defines the term ‘essential article’ as any “any article, not being an essential commodity as defined in the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (Central Act 10 of 1955), which may be declared by the Government by notified order to be an essential article. The act allows the government to check unbridled price rice of commodities and ensure free flow and equitable distribution of essential commodities.
According to reports, Kerala has around 300 brands of bottled drinking water. The Kerala Bottled Water Manufacturers’ Association, which has about 100 members, welcomed the state government's move. However, it is likely that disgruntled manufacturers will approach court.
Apart from private bottled water companies, the Kerala government sells drinking water at Rs 10, through a subsidiary of the Kerala Water Authority
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