Close illegal water plants, Collector tells officials

Vijayawada: Krishna District Collector B Lakshmikantham directed the officials to close illegal water plants. Reviewing with the officials of vigilance and enforcement officials at his office here on Sunday, he said that already 11 water plants were closed in the district and some other plants were being run without licences.

He asked the officials to take stringent action against the water plants which were not following quality parameters. The Collector also said that Rs 1.12 crore was collected from rice millers as penalty for illegally recycling the rice of public distribution system.

The prohibition and excise officials also booked 15 cases against the owners of liquor shops and seized one vehicle. The officials of drug control department conducted raids on 63 medical shops, he said and added that the irregularities were found in 16 shops.

Similarly, cases were booked against the cloth stores, general stores, aqua and super markets and Rs 6.72 lakh were collected as a penalty from them, he said. Similarly, samples were collected from various shops and general stores, he said. Several officials of various departments, along with vigilance and enforcement department, were present at the meeting.