Retail sales of packaged water fell today, a day after the Centre for Science and Environment reported that leading packaged water brands contained pesticides beyond permissible limits.

Though companies like Pepsi and Coca-Cola, which sell packaged water brands featured on the CSE list, insisted that there was no impact on sales, grocery stores in several New Delhi markets reported that consumers were returning in large numbers packaged water brands on the list.  Restaurants in the city also reported lower sales of packaged water on Wednesday.

The Centre, on Wednesday, ordered an investigation into the alleged presence of pesticides in various brands of packaged water. The companies bottling water, however, continued to remain silent on the issue of possible contamination.

Traders said consumers now preferred buying expensive brands like Himalaya and Catch because of the possible contamination in high-volume low-price brands like Bisleri.

As compared to a Bisleri crate of 12 one-litre bottles priced at Rs 110, a Himalaya crate comes for Rs 150. Restaurants in five-star hotels, too, said customers were willing to pay more for imported brands like Evian.

Suveen Sahib, director, Evian (South Asia), and chief executive of Mount Everest Mineral Water Ltd -- the company that owns the Himalaya brand -- said: "There have been a lot of enquiries from consumers and lot of interest in buying healthy natural mineral water. They are keen that they have access to clean water even if they have to shell out extra money for the same."

Large institutional buyers, too, are looking at brands that do not contain pesticides. Indian Airlines sources said the company was examining the matter.

At present, the airline is serving the Catch and Bailley brands on its flights.

The railways are replacing the 50-odd brands served on trains with their own brand, Railneer, from February 16.

The government has set up a four-member inquiry committee headed by Satwant Kaur Reddy, additional secretary in the consumer affairs department. The committee has been asked to submit its report within three weeks.

The panel, which includes director (Bureau of Industrial Standards) in the consumer affairs department, an official from the health ministry and a scientist, apart from Reddy, will look into the adequacy of standards for packaged drinking water and natural mineral water that are being issued by the BIS.

It will also ascertain whether the standards are being properly enforced.

The committee will further look into the testing facilities available with the BIS, besides examining the status of alignment of standards for packaged drinking water and  natural mineral water with current international criteria.