CAS may run into trouble in three metros
New Delhi: The Indian government's plans to introduce conditional access system (CAS) in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata may run into trouble with the Shiv Sena and the Leftist West Bengal government opposing the move. While CAS has been deferred in Delhi due to its "politicisation before elections," it was decided that the system will be rolled out in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, as planned, from 1 September.

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray said he is still not in favour of CAS in the metropolis: "Why is the government marketing the new system." The West Bengal government has also expressed its reservations over the deferment of CAS in Delhi and has sought a postponement in Kolkata as well.
Back to News Review index page  

Govt may bring drinking water under 'food' category
New Delhi: The Indian government may come out with an ordinance to bring drinking water under the food category of the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act. "Until now drinking water was not defined as food and hence there were no norms. The government will come out with an ordinance to bring drinking water under food. We will then set up a group of experts who will work out the norms for groundwater and drinking water," said Health Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Bottled drinking water has already been defined as 'food' under the PFA, when the health ministry had issued a notification two years ago making it mandatory for all packaged drinking water to sport the ISI mark from March 2001. The effort to lay down norms for drinking water and groundwater comes as an aftermath to the controversy of pesticide residue in soft drinks, when both the Cola majors pointed out that soft drinks contained pesticides since its raw material, groundwater contained pesticides, said health ministry officials.
Back to News Review index page