The Maharashtra Bottled Water Manufacturers Association is up in arms over what they call the MIDC’s exorbitant prices for water bottles.

The state has at least 260 bottled water manufacturers, of which 61 are based at the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC).

“The water rates at the MIDC are very high — at Rs 50 per 1,000 litres — MIDC has hiked the rates from Rs 10 per 100 litres,” said Shekar Mundada, president of the Maharashtra Bottled Water Association.

For non-MIDC companies, there is no charge to pay. “We draw water from the bore wells, but we do not have to pay any fee. This differential pricing makes it difficult for MIDC bottle manufacturers,” Mundada said.

Many of the bottled water manufactures have not been paying these charges and have had to pay heavy amounts at the time of renewal of contract.

As a compromise, the bottled water manufacturers have come up with a formula: as only 30 per cent of water after processing is used, the additional fee should be for only 30 per cent.

“This bottled water goes through seven stages of processing — after which only 30 per cent is usable, the rest of the water is for maintenance purposes,” he said.

Manufacturers are saying that at this rate, even tanker water would be cheaper than bottled water from MIDC companies. Last week, they held a meeting with NEERI representatives; NEERI was appointed after a Supreme Court order to bring about a compromise.

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