THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has taken an urgent move to hand over the project including renovation of water supply and storage tanks in Kochi city to a French company. In this regard, Minister Roshi Augustin and senior officials of the Water Resources Department will hold a discussion with Kochi Mayor M. Anilkumar today. However, the water authority's employee organizations have alleged that this is a move to privatize water supply.

The state government had approved the steps to take an ADB loan of 2511 crores for the drinking water supply project under Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode Corporation. The first phase is planned to be implemented in Kochi. The project in Kochi is in collaboration with the French company Soyuz Projects Private Limited. It will be implemented in the other two places once it becomes a reality.

Although the Water Resources Secretary had earlier held discussions with the employees' organizations regarding the project, the organizations have decided to go ahead with the strike against it. However, it is indicated that the Chief Minister's position is that there will be no change in the decision to take a loan from ADB and only if the problems affecting the employees can be discussed.

Rate will increase sharply

1. By handing over the water supply to the private company, the consumers will have to pay a higher rate, the organizations said. The contract with the company is 21% more than the estimate

2. It is not clear who will do the billing or who will fix the rates 3. It is not clear whether free distribution to BPL families will continue and public taps will be stopped

4. The French company says that disputes and legal proceedings are subject to the legal provisions of their country