Mangalore will soon see effects of privatisation of water, says activist

` 147 crore allocation to city for water issues in state budget was a plan proposed by World Bank two years ago

Cities like Hubli, Dharwad and Shimoga are experiencing the effects of privatisation of water and Mangalore city will not be able to protect itself from the negative effects for long, said Kshitiraj Urs of Karnataka People’s Campaign  for Right to Water.

He was speaking at the discussion on water issues organised by Citizens’ Forum for Mangalore Development at School of Social Work Roshni Nilaya on Tuesday.

“Corporate giants have turned their eyes to India to exploit the water resources. Their efforts to make money from water failed in South America and Africa due to public protest. They have found India as a safe abode for the execution of their plans,”he said adding that Karnataka government took the first step in India to embrace privatisation of water supply.

“Government cannot wash away its hands saying water is a private matter. It is Government’s duty to make sure that adequate water is provided to each and every citizen,” he said.

Speaking on the acute increase in water cost, he said that in Hubli-Dharwad, people are paying ten times more the tariff, when compared to what they paid before privatisation of water. In most of the places, he said, privatization of water happened because of the unholy nexus between the corporate giants and the bureaucrats, keeping elected representatives away.

“In one city, the Deputy Commissioner who was also the Corporation Commissioner waited till the elected council was dissolved to sign the agreement with a French company using his executive powers. This might happen in Mangalore too”, he warned.

He said that the Karnataka Water Policy and National Water Policy are formulated according to the World Bank directions to help the corporate giants.

“Even the 11th five-year plan is not formulated by the cabinet, or elected representatives, but it is done by a private firm known as Price Water House Coopers, which has many Multi-National Companies as its clients. The World Water Summit organised in Bangalore was also organised with an agenda to help these companies”, he said and added that the Rs 147 crores allocation to Mangalore for water issues in the state budget is the plan that World Bank proposed two years ago.

He said that only way to overcome the impending crisis is to mobilize public against it. “In Mysore, they have privatised water supply, but the decision was withdrawn by the Chief Minister some days ago, which is a good move,” he said.