Archives

The newest Bill on water - the Water Resources Reform Bill - is already due to go before Parliament. This Bill has not been discussed with the public or the Opposition and has indeed been brought before Parliament in the most 'untransparent' way.

Water - a precious resource

In contrast to this the National Water Authority Act and the policy which preceded it were discussed openly for many years before the final draft was taken. (Although there too some arbitrary changes have taken place).

This latest Bill proposes to give licences to 'service providers' to supply domestic water to the population. These 'licensees' will be given full control of the water resource from which the water will be extracted for supply, be it a reservoir, water course or other source.

So much so that any person "who wrongfully takes or uses any water from any reservoir, water course etc... shall be guilty of an offence and be liable to conviction after trial before a Magistrate." (Sect.)

So where does this place people who have been normally using this water course for bathing, washing clothes, may be a few km or meters upstream? The ordinary people of this country living near these water courses will have no water for their ablutions. We, as a country are preparing to surrender the ownership of this natural resource too, to multinationals or local private individuals as the case may be.

The Bill has a number of punitive clauses for those who will receive water from this licensee. For example they are forbidden to permit another person to use water from the pipe they pay the licensee for. So if you sublet a room or annexe with water you will be committing an offence. Moreover, the licensee has the right to enter your premises any time between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. to see if there are 'unauthorised water connections'! If you are guilty of this and numerous other acts (wasting water) you have committed an offence and can be brought for trial before a Magistrate.

This Bill goes hand in hand with another which amends the National Water Supply and Drainage Board Act. These amendments allow the NWSDB to give off its responsibilities to the private, or community-based organisations along with their property which is government property.

It looks as if we are going into a police state where all sorts of private tycoons and foreigners can own the natural resources of this country and tell the ordinary people to 'go look elsewhere' if you want to wash or bathe. There are very few equivalent dos and don'ts for the licensee.

Many things are left to the discretion of the 'Commission' i.e. the Public Utilities Commission appointed by the Minister, who has all the powers of giving water or withholding water to consumers. Can this highly centralised body deal with all the problems of water users?

There are many things to criticise in this Bill. But what we find strange is the lack of any discussion or transparency and the hurry in which it is being pushed through while everybody else is looking at the Integrated Water Management Policy and the Act. It would have been law but for the prorogation of Parliament.

The experience of our Asian neighbours, notably Manila and Djakarta, have been bad. This is not taking Bolivia into account. The people there managed to get a money-oriented supplier out, but the government is now being sued for a colossal sum by the multi-national company.

The same is due to happen in Manila. Will we never learn? It has been pointed out many times that if the National Water Supply and Drainage Board were allowed to operate free of political interference and with reasonably paid independent staff, the money for running efficient supply systems and even drainage systems could be found.

But no. We have to follow the dictates of the World/Asian Bank which wishes to privatise water against all evidence that it has been a disaster for the poor in developing countries. That is why in all the cities of Europe, barring UK and France (most of the big water multinationals are based in France), and even the United States of America, water supply is mainly in public hands.

We hope the Members of Parliament will take a more patriotic view and not permit this Bill to be passed. Certainly the people of this country will have to take note and prevail on the government to withdraw this Bill.

Kamini Meedeniya Vitarana, Ruk Rakaganno

www.ppilk.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries

Produced by Lake House
Copyright © 2003 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager