Punjab ready to ''take action'' following CSE report

Chandigarh, Aug 7 (UNI) The soft drink giants are in for a tough time in Punjab as both government as well as public are taking a serious view of the fresh report of Science and Environment on alleged high pesticide residue in soft drinks.

While Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretriat has banned serving Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola and other soft drinks in its Canteen following the study, health authorities in various districts are lifting samples from factories and households are ridding their fridges of the ''health hazard.'' ''This ban was necessary in the interest of the health of all concerned and will continue till the shadow of their being deadly is cleared,'' Secretary, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Nachhattar Singh Mavi said.

Today, District Health Authorities, Hoshiarpur seized 11 samples of various soft drinks, including Coca Cola, Pepsi, Dew, 7 Up and Limca from various supply sources, Dr M L Puri, District Health Officer, said.

He said all the seized samples had been sent to the state laboratory for tests and action would be taken after receiving the report.

Similar raids were conducted earlier in Amritsar on bottling plants of Pepsi and Coca Cola companies samples were sent for tests to a government laboratory in Patiala.

These developments, much-publicised by the media, are adversely affecting the sale of soft drinks, specially the colas, according to Brij Mohan Batra, a local dealer of Coca Cola products in Hoshiarpur.

''More than 50 per cent sale of these products has gone down,'' said Batra, who added the sale of soft drinks generally decreased during monsoon period, but the adverse publicity had added fuel in fire, he said.

Similar sentiments were echoed by soft drink sellers in Mohali, Amritsar and Patiala.

Local agents of soft drinks also complained about the decrease of sale of their soft drinks products in Hoshiarpur.

UNI XC-JN HS KD KP1908