The last few years have seen the intensification of the push for restructuring in the water sector and at present at least 18 states in the country are undergoing private sector participation at different levels. This has followed the initiation of the post-1991 economic reforms process. Part of this agenda includes privatisation of public assets and of common property resources. Trends in the past 15 years indicate that reforms have largely benefited the political and economic elites, including national and transnational corporations. The privatisation of natural resources including water is following the trend in other sectors without addressing crucial issues of equity, sustainability and institutions. Despite the rhetoric that these issues will be addressed, all state governments are bending towards the dominant neo-liberal trend in economic policy which accords a prime place for the private sector.

Presentations

Madhya Pradesh W-sector Reform Rehmat, Basti Activist

Karnataka W-sector reforms Campaign Against Water Privatisation Mr.Isaac, APSA

Mumbai K-east Privatisation Plans Sitaram Shelar, K-east resident, Mumbai Paani

Delhi Water Privatisation Plan Arvind Kejriwal, DJB union/resident

Himachal Pradesh Allain Duhangan HEP Himanshu Thakkar, South Asian Network on Dams, Rivers, and People and others...

Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh Water Supply, Swajal Project Trepan Singh Chouchan, Chetna Andolan Ashok Mathur, INSAF Sanjay Bijayvargis, Centre for Policy Analysis

Water Policy, Uttarakhand, and the World Bank Rohit Asthana, Development Centre for Alternative Policies

Summary of Depositions and Overview of World Bank-Led Water Privatisation Efforts and their Impacts Shripad Dharmadhikari, Manthan Adhyayan Kendra