Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

Govt. move to privatise water supply opposed

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE Aug. 9. The Karnataka Kolageri Nivasigala Samyukta Sanghatane (Karnataka State Slum Dwellers' Federation) has opposed the State Government's proposed move to privatise drinking water supply and management in Bangalore.

Members of the sanghatane staged a dharna on Thursday against the Government's proposed move.

A press release issued by the sanghatane said that a study conducted by the Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU), University of Greenwich, stated that privatisation of water supply might result in increase in bills and poor service to consumers. Experiences in some European cities, where water supply and management was privatised, had not been good. The cost comparison between the cities which were provided water by private companies and municipal or government authorities revealed that the operational cost of private companies was higher than government providers.

Privatisation would affect the urban poor as there would be unequal distribution of water, but the charges would be doubled, said the Honorary President of the sanghatane, N.P. Samy. The study stated that in 1995, the authorities in Puerto Rico handed over the management of water supply to a subsidiary of a French company, which was proposed to manage water supply in Bangalore. The Puerto Rico Office of the Comptroller issued a critical report on water supply stating that there were many faults, including deficiencies in management and repair, he added.

He urged the Government to provide free water to slums and not to privatise water supply and management.

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