After warning of pesticide content in bottled water and soft drinks, Centre for Environment Studies, in a petition before the Supreme Court on Monday said that the government should frame appropriate guidelines to fix standards for drinking water to rid it of pesticides and other harmful chemicals.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice V N Khare and Justice S B Sinha issued notices to the Union ministries of health, food and consumer affairs and environment on the petition received by the Court through post.

Appearing for CSE, senior advocate Rajeev Dhawan and advocate Sanjay Parikh said that the government had come out with a notification fixing standards for the bottled water after CSE made public its research findings indicating high pesticide content in them.

He said the government should now fix the standards for drinking water as crores of Indians drink water, which was not even potable.

The Bench asked Additional Solicitor General Mukul Rohtagi to take instructions from the government and file an affidavit within four weeks.