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Left Parties Oppose Water Privatization
Hindustan Times
September 25, 2005
New Delhi: The Left parties have sought the intervention of Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh to stop the proposed move to privatise water
supply in the capital under "pressures from World Bank" saying it
will result in hike in tariffs.
In a letter to Singh, they said "the experience of implementing such
World Bank dictated privatisation of water supply around the world
has seen huge increases in tariffs and deprivation of water for the
poorer sections".
They said the project has raised a number of questions which have
not been satisfactorily answered by the Delhi government or the Jal
Board.
Alleging that the terms and conditions associated with the credit
money given by the World Bank are "onerous and one-sided", they demanded
immediate withdrawal of the loan application.
The letter signed by CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat, CPI General
Secretary A B Bardhan, AIFB General Secretary Debabrata Biswas and
RSP leader Abani Roy said "after wide discussions it will be possible
to ensure a public water utility which is both efficient and accountable".
The Delhi Jal Board is undertaking a 'Delhi Water Supply Sewarage
project' partly funded by the World Bank which will lead to 21 zones
of the Jal Board being handed over to various private companies.
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