People's Democracy

DELHI

CPI(M) Protests Continue Against Privatisation Of Water

AS part of the continuing protests led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Delhi state committee against move to privatise water, a well-attended dharna was held on November 25 at the Jal Board office in Mangolpuri. It was conducted by the CPI(M) West Delhi committee to protest against the state government’s conspiracy to privatise water supply. This protest was addressed, among others, by Rampal, secretary of the West Delhi committee and PMS Grewal, Party state secretary. The speakers demanded that the Delhi government:

1. Declare that water distribution will not be privatised i.e. handed over to any private company, foreign or Indian and desist from all attempts to implement the 24X7 scheme.

2. Stop using pro-privatisation Price Waterhouse Coopers guidelines regarding the water situation

3. Rectify grossly unequal per capita availability of water between different areas.

4. Annul the contract for the Sonia Vihar Project with Odneo Degremont.

5. Formulate detailed plan for improving water supply and ensuring its sustainable augmentation within parameters of public ownership in consultation with Central Ground Water Authority, other statutory bodies, political parties, citizen’s associations etc.

The CPI(M) Delhi state committee expressed its opposition to the retrograde judgment of the Supreme Court banning squatting of hawkers in Chandni Chowk and other areas of the walled city saying it amounted to denying hawkers their means of livelihood.

In a statement issued on November 25, Party state secretary P M S Grewal stated that

the Supreme Court has turned a blind eye to the provisions of the existing master plan that sanction setting apart specified areas for hawking in markets and pubic places. This is in tune with its anti-poor bias, he stated.

The CPI(M) demanded that the state and central government intervene in the matter both legally and through legislation to protect the interests of the hawkers. (INN)