Argus News - Is Your Bottled Water Really Safe? Odisha Data Reveals Shocking Truth

Bhubaneswar, Feb 23: Revealing alarming statistics, Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling confirmed that several bottled water samples, after testing, sold in the market were found unsafe.

The Odisha government regularly conducts tests on bottled drinking water available in the market to safeguard public health.

According to the data shared by Health Minister Mahaling, in the current year, 29 samples were tested, of which eight were declared unsafe. “Over the past four years, 68 samples were examined, with 18 failing safety standards and eight categorized as very poor quality,” revealed Mahaling.

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The government has acknowledged the issue and assured monitoring to curb the sale of contaminated bottled water.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, on the other hand, highlighted the growing menace of drunk driving. “In the last three years, 1,630 drunk drivers have faced trial in court, while 88,246 individuals were caught driving under the influence,” stated CM Majhi in a written reply to a question.

“Authorities collected fines amounting to ₹4.48 crore from offenders, underscoring the seriousness of enforcement measures,” he added.

Vigilance action has intensified against government officials in Odisha. In the past five years, 310 employees were arrested for possessing disproportionate assets and irregular financial dealings. Properties worth ₹40.84 crore were seized from 22 officials, with orders for confiscation issued.

Between January 2023 and December 2025 alone, 683 corruption cases were registered, and 337 resulted in convictions. Six officials had their properties confiscated, which were repurposed for public use, including anganwadi centres, a women’s hostel, a nursery, and a dispensary. Additionally, ₹32.5 lakh in cash was deposited into the state treasury.