No plans to privatise water - Minister
by Shanika Sriyananda
While environmentalists are up in arms alleging that the country's
water resources are to be privatised, the Minister of Environment and
Natural Resources Champika Ranawaka reiterated that there were no plans
to sell water under the Mahinda Chinthana concept.
He said water would be conserved for the benefit of the future
generation under the Mahinda Chinthana.
"A national policy to conserve water is vital as the water wastage is
huge. There are no attempts under the Chinthana to sell water resources
in the country.
It gives priority to conserve water bodies to minimise waste", he
said. Minister Ranawaka said that there should be a system to bring to
book those who pollute water resources. " The government will introduce
a system to fine those who pollute water in future", he said.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Green Movement (SLGM) had warned of attempts
by international agencies, which are eyeing the privatisation of water
resources again.
" We feel that there would not be any move under the Mahinda
Chinthana concept to privatise water in Sri Lanka. However, the World
Bank and the Asian Development Bank are still having hopes of going
ahead with their recommendations of pricing water, Suranjan Kodituwakku
of the SLGM said.
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