The Department of Supply Management (DSM) on Monday sealed four bottled water factories in Matatirtha, Kathmandu and imposed a ban from selling products in the market for violating the government regulation.

A joint monitoring team under the DSM found Matatirtha Spring Mineral Water and Beverage, Spring Mineral Water, Sagarmatha Food & Beverage and Royal Spring Mineral Water were following ‘unhygenic’ practices in breach of the government rules.

Deepak Raj Pokharel, monitoring officer of the department, said they barred the companies from carrying out their business after they were found selling contaminated water. “Some have been found running their business without operating licence, while the others have failed to use the make seal caps on their products,” said Pokharel.

Matatirtha was found selling contaminated water, the department said. “The company has stocked products that were made ready for dispatch contained germs. Besides, the company workers also failed to maintain proper sanitation in the production process,” said Pokharel.

Spring Mineral Water had been carrying out its business without renewing its operating licence. The producer of brands named 24 Caret and Aqua Sansar was also found selling without using the sealed cap on their products.

The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control has directed the bottled water companies to use the printed sealed cap on their products effective from June 15. Similarly, Sagarmatha which produces Safa Pani and Aqua Pound brands, and Royal—the producer of A-One and Aqua Sporty brands—have been found operating without licence apart from not using the sealed caps on the products. “The company claimed that it had shut its business, but it was found to have dispatched 3-4 lots of its products only on Monday morning,” said Pokharel.