Safety Lapses Identified at Gajularamaram Packaged Drinking Water Unit During Inspection
Food safety teams from the Cyberabad Municipal Corporation uncovered critical hygiene and regulatory failures at a Gajularamaram packaged drinking water unit. Issues included missing groundwater permits, incomplete water testing reports, and lack of staff protective gear, prompting an immediate demand for rectification.
Highlights
- •Authorities inspected the Natural Aqua unit in Rodamestry Nagar, Gajularamaram, due to multiple safety violations.
- •The facility lacked a groundwater extraction NOC and provided an incomplete water analysis report lacking microbial data.
- •Operational failures included a lack of proper staff protective gear and insufficient barriers against pests and dust.
- •The operator must now rectify these hygiene and documentation lapses before further processing can proceed.
Following a series of inspections targeting local food establishments, health authorities have turned their attention to the bottled water industry. The food safety department operating under the Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) recently conducted an unannounced evaluation of a packaged drinking water unit located in Rodamestry Nagar, within the Gajularamaram circle. The assessment of Natural Aqua revealed several significant operational and compliance failures.
Safety Violations at Gajularamaram Water Unit
During the site visit, inspectors identified multiple lapses in basic hygiene and regulatory adherence. It was observed that staff members handling the product were not equipped with essential protective gear, including headcaps, gloves, or aprons. Furthermore, the infrastructure of the facility was found to be inadequate for maintaining sanitary standards; the bottling unit lacked necessary protective barriers or mesh, which are required to prevent the infiltration of dust and pests into the production area.
Beyond physical hygiene, the facility displayed a lack of administrative compliance. A critical investigation showed that the packaged drinking water unit had failed to secure a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for groundwater extraction. Additionally, the facility could not produce necessary documentation, including records for pest control, medical fitness of staff, and cleaning schedules. The water analysis report provided was incomplete, notably missing essential microbial analysis required to ensure consumer safety.
Further scrutiny of the business operations revealed that the FSSAI license for the vehicle used to transport the water was unavailable. The operator also failed to produce NABL certification for packaging materials, and various application documents lacked the required self-attestation. These gaps in documentation and safety protocols highlight systemic issues within the operation of the Gajularamaram unit.
Regulatory Enforcement and Facility Improvements
As a direct result of these findings, officials have collected various drinking water samples for thorough laboratory testing. The Food Business Operator (FBO) has been formally instructed to address all cited observations and must resubmit their application with fully updated and accurate documentation for continued processing.
Despite the widespread concerns identified, officials did note some positive practices during the inspection. The facility featured properly sloped flooring that prevented water stagnation, and the site's wastewater was correctly diverted into a rainwater harvesting pit. Additionally, the walls and ceilings of the plant were found to be well-maintained and free from dust and cobwebs. These areas of compliance serve as the foundation upon which the unit must build to align with mandatory health and safety standards moving forward.
