The Fiji Human Rights Commission said the state has an obligation to the people to ensure that water bottling companies in Fiji do not deplete the ground water resources.
FHRC Director Dr Shaista Shameem said the Commission defines water as a public good, with the State being responsible under the Public Trust Doctrine for future generations' access to a plentiful supply of water.
She said extraction of large volumes of artesian water for commercial purposes could impact on the constitutional rights of the people of Fiji and calls on the government to carry out an immediate environmental impact study.
However, President of the Fiji Water Bottlers Institute Warick Pleass said impact studies and stock take of the ground water resources have been done.
Pleass reiterate that the underground water resources are replenished at a much faster rate than the companies pump out.
Meanwhile, negotiations are underway between the water bottling companies and FIRCA on compensation to be paid to the government by the companies for bottling of water after the 20 cents per liter excise and export duty was repealed.
FHRC Calls For Impact Study
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