BKS flays govt’s water privatization policy

Newsbharati: Nagpur: April 8: Flaying the recently-released government draft on privatization of water, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) has demanded necessary amendments in the proposed water policy.
BKS has stated that allotting the status of commodity to water is the indication of its privatization. Multi National Companies have their eyes set on the same because it will reap bulk benefits for them. There is no doubt that it will be very difficult for public and the farmers to get appropriate water once the privatization policy is implemented. Move to privatize the distribution of water while talking of social justice regarding water distribution exposes government’s double standards.
Government has suggested that the rates for farm water should be fixed as per industrial standards. This is against social justice because even today, farmer is not getting the price based on the production cost of the farm produce. If the water rates will be fixed as per the industrial standards, the burden will naturally fall on the cost of farming causing an exponential rise in the price of food grains.
There is no transparency regarding the priority of water utilization. While fixing the priority of water use, Maharashtra Government has allotted priority to the industrial use of water instead of farming, after utilizing it for drinking purposes. This is not viable for an agro-dominated country like India. A straightforward policy is needed regarding this aspect. After utilizing water for drinking purposes, farming must be the priority for water use, BKS said.
Transparency is also needed regarding the river joining project. However, it is not at all visible in the draft. Government must keep in mind that experts in the field are opposed to the scheme from the environment point of view, opined BKS.
Complete efforts should be made for ensuring a balanced and effective utilization of water. Regulation of water in the eastern states of the country is quite necessary regarding this issue. This has been mentioned in the draft; however no concrete plan has been formulated.
Special schemes should be formulated for catalyzing people’s participation in the balanced and efficient utilization of water. Assistance should be taken from voluntary organizations for increasing water literacy. A little attention has been paid regarding all these aspects in the draft. Praising the government for its plan to set up National Water Information Centre, BKS said, keeping in view the national interest, international river water disputes pertaining to China, Pakistan and Bangladesh need to be sorted out soon.
17 per cent of the total world population lives in India. India occupies 2.6 per cent of the total world land and has 40 per cent of the total world water. The average annual rainfall is 4,000 billion cubic metre out of which only 1123 billion cubic metre water is available for use. Hence water should be regarded as precious national wealth and utilized accordingly with utmost care. Resolution regarding the same has been passed by BKS earlier also.
RSS and several other organizations also have flayed the privatization of water, proposed in the draft. Keeping this in mind, BKS has demanded to make the necessary changes in the draft by the government.

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