The Stolen Right to Safe Water: Corporate Negligence and Regulatory Apathy
The Stolen Right to Safe Water: Corporate Negligence and Regulatory Apathy
The convergence of Bisleri’s reluctance to be transparent and the FSSAI’s refusal to exercise its authority has created a vacuum where the fundamental rights of millions of people are effectively sidelined.
By Rakesh Raman
New Delhi | May 1, 2026
Safe drinking water is not merely a commercial product; it is a fundamental human right and a public necessity essential for life. However, in India, this right is being undermined by a dangerous combination of corporate indifference and administrative failure. The ongoing case involving the bottled water giant Bisleri and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) exposes a deep crisis where consumer safety is sacrificed for profit and procedural convenience.