Water, its shortage and the perceived moves for its
privatisation, is to be the central theme of the string of agitations
being planned by the State CPI(M) from the first week of May. The
CPI(M) Kerala State committee, which on Thursday and Friday, has
chosen water shortage and privatisation, Centre’s neglect of Kerala, and
‘anti-people’ policies of the UDF government as the three key issues to
be highlighted during its agitations that would begin with picketing of
taluk offices from May 2 to 5.
Briefing reporters
about the deliberations of the committee, CPI(M) State secretary
Pinarayi Vijayan said branch committees of the party would visit homes
and organise people’s conclaves on May 3 and 4 to discuss the issues
sought to be raised through the agitation.
Party workers would hold marches at the level of the area committees from May 9 to 16, he said. Kerala,
the CPI(M) leader pointed out, faced severe challenges on the water
front despite the State receiving an estimated 3,000 mm of rain every
year.
The situation was grim in most parts of the
State due to the current dry spell. The situation would worsen if the
UDF government went ahead with its plans to privatise water distribution
through a company modelled after the Cochin International Airport
Limited (CIAL).
The government would have only
minority shareholding in the proposed company. This would mean that the
private players would take all the crucial decisions regarding water
pricing and distribution. The State was currently supplying 1,000 litres
of drinking water at Rs.4.20. This would go up to Rs.250 once
privatisation becomes a reality. The UDF government
had already done much to undo the major efforts made by the LDF to put
the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) in a position of strength. With
privatisation, it would cease to have any role. The CPI(M) would not
allow the government to have its way on this issue, Mr. Vijayan said.
Central investment
The
CPI(M) agitation would also seek to draw public attention to the
falling Central investment in the State from 3.1 to 2.6 per cent of the
GDP. The State government’s failure to hold the price
line and its various ‘anti-people’ policies would also figure in the
campaign, the CPI(M) leader said.
(Source : The Hindu)
