The Hindu : Front Page : Water council on the anvil to attract private players

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Wednesday, Dec 26, 2007
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Water council on the anvil to attract private players

Swathi Shivanand

It has been conceptualised as an ‘independent body’

BANGALORE: To ensure better water supply in urban areas and to make the sector attractive for private players, the State Government is thinking of setting up a regulatory body on the lines of Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission.

The State Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Council, which is to be the regulator, has been conceptualised as an “independent body” that will take over all the functions of the Government with regard to the water and sanitation sector except the power to formulate policies.

Restructuring tariff

It is learnt that one of the important mandates of the council will be to “develop clarity on the kind of private participation that can be entered into”, apart from restructuring tariff rates, as recommended by the Urban Drinking Water and Sanitation Policy of 2002.

“Setting up of the independent council is a precursor to full-blown privatisation. When private entities enter the field, they do not have to deal with a government body that is accountable to the general public but to a small council,” says Kshitij Urs, a rights activist.

While the proposal is in its infancy, it is expected to be a “financially independent body” that will oversee water-related programmes across the State. Specific functions of the council include providing technical assistance in forming schemes for every urban local body (ULB), updating water supply information system periodically, raising efficiency levels and discouraging over-exploitation.

The initial setting up of the council has been estimated at Rs. 5 crore and its annual expense Rs. 1.26 crore.

Major expense

Payments to consultants will be its major expense as much of its work will be outsourced. The council, in the long run, will sustain itself from the revenues earned through water supply. A consortium of three consultants has been appointed to look into the setting up of the council, Jawaid Akthar, Managing Director, Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (KUIDFC), told The Hindu.

The consultants preparing the business plan include Tahal Consulting Engineers, CRISIL Infrastructure Advisory and The Energy and Resources Institute.

A chairperson and four members (technical, finance, public affairs and secretary) will be part of the council. Interestingly, while expertise in various fields, including public administration, engineering and economics, are necessary qualifications, knowledge of water management is not a criterion for any member.

Multiple agencies

At present, water and sanitation in the State are managed by multiple agencies, resulting in unsatisfactory performance.

While the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board develops infrastructure, the urban local bodies manage water supply and sanitation, except in the case of Bangalore city.

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