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  4. Delhi to privatise water supply, city to pay nine times more than Mumbai

Delhi to privatise water supply, city to pay nine times more than Mumbai

09 July 2012
hands under a water tap against a blue sky
On 3 July Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit confirmed that the state government has decided to privatise water treatment plants in the national capital, following its earlier privatisation of power distribution. The Planning Commission has given its approval to the proposal.

However, privatisation will make water in the national capital more expensive. The chief minister has already advocated a water fee hike, and with a monthly fee of around Rs 960, the population of Delhi will be paying nine times more than those of Mumbai (Rs 160) for water.

The big difference is that treatment plants in Mumbai are all government-run.

Mumbai's municipality authority said that water is a sensitive issue and it is associated not only with necessity but also with security. Considering that aspect, there is no move for privatisation of water distribution in the country’s business capital.

Opposing the move by the Congress government in Delhi, BJP leader VK Malhotra said, “This attempt was on for a long time. But it was delayed because of our opposition. Everything is given to the corporates to run them on behalf of the government. Why not give the government itself to the corporates?”

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