Campaign Against Water Privatisation - Karnataka (CAWP) has alleged that the implementation of water sector policy is pushing the local government towards privatisation, by supporting public sector participation in urban water supply.

The CAWP, reacting to the report published in Deccan Herald on “24/7 water project gets thumbs up”, charged that the commissioners of Belgaum and Hubli-Dharwad are giving baseless information by saying the 24/7 water scheme is a success. The commissioners, by giving such statements, are attempting to prepare people for the impending hike in water tariff.

Manipulating

In the absence of a council, no resolution could be passed. The Government is manipulating the corporations to pass resolutions in its favour. By doing so the Government is violating the 74th amendment to the Constitution which is the basis of urban local governments. The implementation of water sector policy is pushing the local governments towards privatisation by supporting private sector participation in urban water supply.

With the implementation of the private sector project through a loan taken by the government, the citizens’ rights have been set aside in favour of the World Bank. No right to water is assured to people in the State urban drinking water 2003 policy drafted and prepared by the WB for the State. How will the poor and those citizens who cannot afford to pay the tariff be supplied water if public stand posts are disconnected, questioned Issac Arul Selva, Convenor of CAWP-K.

The government has not conducted any survey to asses the success of 24/7 water supply project, as the project is yet to be completed in all the cities. Many areas have not received proper bills. The performance standards set for the private operator do not apply to the preparatory phase and only commence from the O & M period, the press release said.