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	<img align="" alt="Bottled water" class="imgCont" height="275" src="http://bsmedia.business-standard.com/_media/bs/img/article/2016-05/28/full/1464446362-9241.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #DDD; margin-right: 10px; padding: 1px; float: left; z-index: 0;" title="Bottled water" width="380" />
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		Sale of packaged water and soft drinks above the Maximum Retail Price (MRP), including at airports, multiplexes and hotels, will attract stringent penal actions like fines and jail term, Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on October 14.</div>
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		&quot;Charging above MRP is violation of the law. But we still see airports, multi-plex(es) and hotels (sell) packaged water at (prices) more than the MRP. This needs to be stopped,&quot; Paswan said.</div>
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		He said packaged drinking water is sold at rates that are higher by 10-20 per cent at these places, while in some cases the MRP is not even written on the water bottle and &quot;soft drinks like Coca Cola are sold in loose at an increased rate&quot;.</div>
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		&quot;We have sufficient power to take action against violators and we will take if consumers file complaints in this regard. There is penalty and even jail term for violators,&quot; Paswan said on the sidelines of an event.</div>
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		Speaking at an event commemorating the 47th World Standards Day, the Minister said the &#39;ISI&#39; quality certification mark is mandatory for packaged water bottles and this needs to be implemented in true spirit in the interest of consumers.</div>
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		Recently, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission had imposed a penalty on a multiplex for selling water above MRP, he said adding that there is a need to create more awareness about consumer rights regarding this.</div>
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		&quot;Despite this judgement, water is still continued to be sold above MRP in multiplexes and airports. So, consumers need to be more aware and file complaints. If there is no complaint, how can we take action?&quot; he said.</div>
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		Talking about standards, the Minister said the government&#39;s &#39;Make in India&#39; programme cannot be successful unless domestic products and services follow international standards.</div>
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		Calling for building trust among consumers for setting Indian standards, he said, &quot;We go abroad and buy branded clothes happily when we see the label &#39;Made in US&#39;. The moment we see &#39;Made in India&#39; label, we don&#39;t buy as there is a lack of trust among consumers.&quot;</div>
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		This perception needs to be changed by creating awareness among consumers by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which is the nodal agency for making standards, he said.</div>
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		Stating that BIS makes standards for the betterment of industry and its consumers, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs C R Choudhary said, &quot;I would like to request the industry to follow standards strictly because (only) those will survive who will provide best goods and services to consumers.&quot;</div>
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		More than 35 countries are adopting Indian standards and BIS is working to have a unified standard for SAARC nations, he added.</div>
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Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan urged consumers to be aware and file complaints against offenders

Govt warns of action against sale of packaged water above MRP

Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan urged consumers to be aware and file complaints against offenders

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