BERHAMPUR: Come summer and the water pouches business springs to life in the Silk City. With the mercury touching 40 degrees Celsius in the district and sunstroke-related incidents on the rise, people prefer not to take risk while out in the open.
The pouches, available at Re 1, are an inseparable part of the common man during the harsh summer. Such is the demand for these pouches that their sale has overtaken that of desi beverages like butter milk, sweet water and soda besides the branded cool drinks.
The pouches come as a saviour for the parched throats in a city where most of the water sources have dried up due to the depleting water table. To overcome the water scarcity, the Berhampur Municipal Corporation has opened over 100 synthetic water tanks and many water points at various places in the city but alleged lack of interest to fill the tanks has failed the purpose. Similar measures were reportedly taken in rural areas but there too the efforts were nullified.
With all measures gone in vain, the 200-ml water pouch is the last resort. More than 25 manufacturers in the district supply around 50,000 liters daily during the crisis period. This leaves a person curious regarding the source of water, packaging standards and the quality of the product.
Despite nagging doubts, the pouches have gained the confidence of the common man. Almost every shop in the city stores huge quantity of the packets.
According to shop owners in crowded areas of Kamapalli, Old Bus Stand, Girija Chowk and other areas, last year by this time we sold on an average five cases of cool drinks a day apart from the local products. This year the sales have increased.
Meanwhile, the health officials have issued an alert. The water contained in the pouches cannot be bacteria free since the pouches are prepared in a hurry, to meet the urgent need.