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From: Vinay Baindur <yanivbin@xxxxxxxxx>
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Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2006 23:20:34 +0530
*Janaagraha walks out of water project * Special Correspondent Bangalore:
Janaagraha has announced that it is disengaging itself from the Greater
Bangalore Water and Sewerage Project (GBWASP). The organisation was involved
by the Government on behalf of the citizens, in the project to provide
drinking water from Cauvery to the seven city municipal councils and one
town municipal council in and around Bangalore, along with sewerage
facilities for the residents. A Janaagraha spokesperson said the
organisation interacted with the Government regularly over the past year,
consistently requesting that a water policy for the urban areas be framed as
quickly as possible. "We have also requested for citizen consultation in the
decision-making process on this project and this has not been addressed. So,
we are formally withdrawing from the GBWASP," the spokesperson said.
Janaagraha's involvement had come in for criticism from certain civil
society organisations on the ground that the entire project was aimed at
"privatisation of water", making it difficult for the urban poor to get safe
drinking water. In a letter to the Government, Janaagraha founder Ramesh
Ramanathan said they had sought some clarification regarding the project,
with specific relation to water supply for the urban poor. There was serious
concern about the kind of water supply options to be offered to those in the
urban slums. "Specifically, there is great concern about privatisation, and
what this could mean from a pricing perspective. Janaagraha's view is that
the three-tier Jalamitra structure for citizen participation, including
representatives of municipalities, should be involved in consultations for
taking any decision on service options," the letter said.