Contract to private company: water authority wants permission for changes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the contract to entrust the supply of drinking water in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi cities to private companies, the government should take a policy decision in making the changes says the water authority. S Venkatesapathy, MD of Water Authority clarified this in a discussion held with the ruling and opposition organizations yesterday. He explained that the water authority is in charge of implementing the project and the decision on the terms and conditions of getting a loan from the Asian Development Bank is also up to the government.

The Kerala Water Authority Employees Union (CITU), a pro-government organization, demanded that the terms of the agreement be made public. They also pointed out that there is no clarity regarding the renovation of new plants and the calculation of drinking water loss. The representatives of the Water Authority Staff Association (INTUC) pointed out that the conditions in the tender are different from the DPR. They clarified that the terms of the agreement should be handed over to the organizations and further discussion could take place after this. They also informed that they will stage an agitation if the privatization move is not withdrawn. The representatives of the organization said that the MD and others could not give a clear answer during the three-hour-long discussion. Water Authority Technical Member G. Sreekumar, Chief Engineers P. Unnikrishnan, OR Shaji, Amritraj, GR Hemant, ES Santhoshkumar, Thambi, C Biju, B Ragesh, T Shaiju and others also participated.