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| Sunday, 8 August 2004 |
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Politics |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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No intention to sell water under new policy by Shanika Sriyananda "A water policy implemented by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has not been submitted to the Ministry and no ADB review officials have met the Ministry officials. No donor agency can influence the Ministry of Agriculture to make a policy to suit their agenda", Minister of Agriculture and Lands Anura Dissanayake said. A team of experts, including those in water and environment, are now in the process of formulating a novel water policy to implement regulations to manage the country's water resources in a more systematic manner. All sections of the society strongly voiced against the proposed Water Resources Policy and Water Resources Management Act implemented under the former government and the UPFA government gave a pledge in their manifesto 'not to sell water resources'. " There were attempts to privatise water resources under the previous government but the UPFA government rejected the Policy and Act as it (former govt.) had planned to give water rights to the private sector companies". Minister Dissanayake assured that there was no intention to sell water resources under the new water policy. He reiterated that the ownership of the water lay with the people of this country and not with the private sector companies. " The new policy will strengthen the people's rights to water. They are the real beneficiaries of this natural resource", he stressed. However, according to Minister Dissanayake, the country strongly needed a well researched policy to manage water resources scientifically and systematically. " No foreign expertise is involved in the new policy. A very knowledgable team of local experts will formulate the policy," he said. Minister Dissanayake said that under the National Water Resources and Drainage Board Act, the sole right of formulating a policy was vested with the Ministry of Agriculture and no policy from the donor agencies would be followed. |
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