Mangalore: Roshni Nilaya, College of Social Work, organised a discussion about water issues on Tuesday(April 10) afternoon, when Dr. U. Kshithij, who had conducted studies on water and land issues for 2 decades as an activist in the campaign for People’s right to water, led the discussion on city water matters.

In Bangalore, water supply has been privatized. Water is a natural resource like gold and oil, but unlike the last two, water can be demanded rightfully by people.

In 2004, rural areas around Bangalore were privatized but the city was left out under BBMP, in a Privatisation Plan. Later Hubli Dharwad and Belgaum Came under Privatisation in water Supply.

A French Company that won the contract only to supply stored water without bearing costs of cleaning and storage made more money than in Gold or oil that others make, he said.

In Mysore, people had come out onto streets to protest against such useless privation process. Kshitij advised Mangaloreans also to protest against private handing of water, The world Bank had suggested 2 years ago and allocation of Rs 147 crores in the current budget on water supply issues.

But foreign cos. keep demanding privatization of water issue, only to make profits, he accused. The government here should not privatize or out source water supply, he ruled.

He asked the state rulers and city administration not to privatise water supply but to supply water to everyone.

Government is the trustee and not the owner of water resources, the learned lecturer pointed out. MLA U.T. Khader also spoke.