While a suo-moto case was being heard in Supreme Court on Saturday, Chief Justice (CJP) Saqib Nisar ordered a probe into operations of a mineral water brand and asked for a quality check of all the companies associated with bottled mineral water.
He has also ordered an investigation of the reported misuse of water resources by mineral water selling companies operating in Pakistan.
As the drying up of the Katas Raj temple came up during the hearing on Saturday, the exploitative consumption of water by cement factories in its surroundings was mentioned. The court was informed that the factories have drilled bores in surrounding areas for water consumption.
The CEOs (Chief executive officers) of all mineral water companies appeared before the court on Sunday, as a directive was issued by the two-member bench court. Besides the fact that they pay nothing to the government in return for their excessive water consumption, they sell mineral water at high rates. Thus the CJP asked them to hold talks with the government to fix an appropriated rate to extract water. WASA has already suggested an increase in tariffs.
CJP also said that Nestle made a profit of Rs. 6 billion in the previous year. Aitezaz Ahsan, representing Nestle, asked for a month of grace period before conduction of an audit, in order to submit a proposal. The request was denied by Saqib Nisar. Instead, he ordered an immediate forensic audit of the mineral water company’s operation.
Other companies also requested for some time before audit, the chief justice declined them as well.
Housing Societies Under Fire
Other than mineral water companies, Housing societies and their residents were also mentioned among the sources drawing an excess of underground water, without paying the government anything for it.
The court was adamant about finding out how much these companies and businesses owe to the people of this country. According to Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, these companies must pay back to the nation now.
He said,
A sense of accountability has started to prevail among the people. After this case, the companies will pay a suitable fee (for the resources they draw for their businesses) and will sell at a suitable price.
Kokab Jamal has been appointed as the forensic auditor by the court and has been ordered to submit a report within two weeks on costs, selling prices and other parameters involved in the operation of a mineral water business.
Mineral Water Company, Foods & Fruit Company, Etc Sub K Lab Report Kar Wao
Such QA measures has to be a periodical weekly or monthly aarathernd should be layed out as sop , rather than to victimise a brand by officials of the departments.