War against pvt players in water sector intensifies

A day after water activists questioned the Delhi Jal Board's decision to revamp the Nangloi water treatment plant on the public private partnership (PPP) model and alleged cost escalation to benefit private parties, voices demanding details of the project grew stronger.

A day after water activists questioned the Delhi Jal Board's decision to revamp the Nangloi water treatment plant on the public private partnership (PPP) model and alleged cost escalation to benefit private parties, voices demanding details of the project grew stronger.

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“The DJB should stay the project and first openly discuss various aspects with those opposing the PPP model,” Justice (retired) Rajinder Sachar, patron of the Water Privatisation-Commercial Resistance Committee, said.

On Monday, the Citizens Front for Water Democracy (CFWD) and Water Workers Alliance (WWA) had alleged the Nangloi project's cost had been escalated to “extend financial benefits to private parties”.

"The issues raised by the CFWD and WWA are pertinent and the DJB owes an answer to the people of Delhi," Sachar said.

The DJB had last week formally approved outsourcing of the Nangloi project under the PPP model. It had earlier launched pilot projects in Malviya Nagar, Mehrauli and Vasant Kunj.

“The DJB should call a meeting of all water-related organisations and civic bodies to discuss the matter. We demand total reversal of the PPP projects not only in Nangloi but in other areas too,” Kiran Shaheen, convener of Right to Water Campaign, said.

Pointing out that public utilities should be kept out of the purview of the PPP modes, Prof Dinesh Varshney, assistant secretary of the CPI's Delhi state council, said: “Going by the example of power companies, these PPP models create problems for Delhiites. Such companies are not even ready for CAG audit. It only results in exponential tariff hike.”

There is total lack of transparency, he said.