Bhawanipatna: A team of officials and police, led by district food inspector Ajit Kumar Chand, on Saturday raided a pouched-water factory in Bagada in Kesinga NAC and sealed the Birag Beverage unit after finding that it was being run illegally without the required permissions.

The team also seized 75 bags of pouched water from the factory that would be sent for testing. Additional tehsildar of Kesinga Rabindra Rout acted as the magistrate during the raid while sub-inspector of Kesinga police station Suresh Prusty led the police team. Kandhamal collector Anjan Kumar Manik ordered the raid after receiving a complaint that the unit was being run illegally.

Sources said a sudden rise in the demand of pouched and bottled water had prompted many to earn a fast buck by illegally setting up such units. These units are mushrooming in many town and even at the villages of Kalahandi district.

Kesinga resident Akash Pradhan said it was a serious issue, because it was related to health of the people.

"Consuming water packaged by such illegal units may lead to health hazards. It is a serious problem and those involved in setting up such units must be brought to book," he said.

"Such raids should be conducted regularly to curb the practice."

District food inspector Ajit Kumar Chand said the factory was illegal and running without licence. "It is an illegal unit as its owner Bibek Jain couldn't furnish the licences of the ISI and the FSSAI that is mandatory for such units. We have seized 75 bags of pouched water and some bottled water," Chand said.