Water, a human right

I write this to appreciate the article “Turning off the tap on water as a human right” (Feb. 16), a good analysis of the National Water Policy. It becomes a matter of serious concern when the right to water for basic needs is not protected. There is certainly a huge danger in letting corporations and international finance govern the use of water. The poor will lose out in the bargain yet again.

Ajit Parida,

Chennai

Water is a natural resource and handing over its control to big corporates for profiteering is denying it to the marginalised sections. Today, it is water. Who knows, tomorrow multinational corporations may be given the right to charge for the air we breathe.

If corporates are allowed to control water, the natural resource may go out of the reach of a majority. The government should, under no circumstances, backtrack from its responsibility of providing the very basic need to people.

K. Santhosh Kumar,

New Delhi