Pune: The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has launched a crackdown on unauthorized private RO (reverse osmosis) plants that are supplying unregulated bottled water. The action comes as a preventive measure against the outbreak of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and other waterborne diseases.

During a special inspection drive, the civic body identified 17 unauthorized RO plants that were found using contaminated water for bottling. These plants have been issued immediate closure orders, and further violations will result in strict legal action, informed PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh.

The municipal corporation has been actively testing water samples from private RO plants after reports suggested that some suppliers were sourcing water from borewells and open water sources.

These water sources are prone to contamination, posing severe health hazards to the public. To protect citizens from potential health crises, PCMC has intensified efforts to eliminate such unauthorized water bottling plants.

A ward-wise inspection is being conducted under the supervision of Water Supply Department’s Deputy City Engineer, Ajay Suryavanshi. The inspection teams, comprising assistant engineers, junior engineers, and plumbers, have identified violations across multiple regional offices:

• F Regional Office: 2 RO plants sealed

• D Regional Office: 2 RO plants and 7 RO ATM plants closed

• B Regional Office: 1 RO plant closed

• G Regional Office: 4 RO plants sealed

• H Regional Office: 1 RO plant shut down