Will privatisation solve problems associated with water supply like high cost, scarcity and poor quality of water?
Water problems in India are mainly due to poor planning and again lack of awareness among the public. Indiscriminate drilling of wells, usage of water, poor land use planning and lack of commitment on the part of the government, industrialists and general public are the cause of the present state of water. Watershed management is essential to improve water quality and resources. Most environmental assessment studies stress on air quality, noise and traffic with little or no mention of groundwater. It must be realised that groundwater sustains surface water sources and vice-versa. The present laws must be revised and strengthened. Water reuse and recycling must be enforced in residential, industrial and all other projects. The local government agencies could develop an attractive incentives programme. Public-private partnership may be a solution to improve the situation. However, total privatisation is not the answer to every problem. In privatisation, the driving power is commercial ra
