Shekhar Kapur: In Search of Water

Hindi cinema has been notorious for its indifference towards socially relevant issues. A fantasy land, disconnected from reality. With Paani, Shekhar Kapur, attempts to meaningfully intervene within the space of the celluloid. The acclaimed cinema-maker, remembered for his stunningly realistic 'Bandit Queen' and poignantly innocent 'Masoom', returns to his craft through a futuristic discourse. 'Paani' is his film in the making. Set in 2035, it portrays a dystopia when water is set to become a unicorn horn - a non-existent and mythical commodity. How a society struggles as water disappears is the subject of Paani. Kapur narrates a scene, perhaps the most horrifying scene of the proposed movie, where thirsty mob attacks a car to steal water from its radiator.

Read on about "Paani" - the film and the topic.

Most of the Hindi films cinematize water-in rain songs, drought, sea shores, boat journeys. But is water so prominent an issue as to demand a full length feature film - 'Paani' ?
It is. A mega-challenge. Historically water has always been a communal property even for the Kings. We had to work hard to get water from a communal facility. It is only in this century that water became a private property as it was directly piped into individual houses. It suddenly changed our psychology. Now we could get water easily. Mega cities were built as water pipes transported water to meet the needs of these newly emerging cities. This easy availability of water led to its wastage.

People are responsible for depletion of water and need to learn to behave. Government needs to act very responsibly. Hence this film.

So you are constructing a hypothetical situation, a dystopia in your movie.
It's not an absolute hypothesis. Water in taps can't last forever. Water is already in short supply. Global warming is already causing unpredictable monsoons. We can no longer see water as a separate resource. We need to be careful about usage of water. My grandparent's home in Nizamuddin (Delhi) had a garden watered by a hand pump. Now gardens have sprinkler systems. It has made watering easy and water gets wasted. It led to going down of the water table and there is no water in the hand pumps now.

Chennai already faces water shortage. While this is happening, people in five star hotels take shower for half an hour. Tourism in Goa is creating pressure on water in that region. So go anywhere, and you will see water as an issue.

I feel one way we should fight this issue is through children, who should be taught to become messengers of water. My daughter teaches me on usage of water.

Is water tariff a way to regulate usage?
I don't think that is the solution. More importantly, water tariff may be unfair, leading to injustice. Those who can afford will buy and get water. It will hit those people who can't pay.

While tariff is not the answer, hotels should be metered for their usage of water and this should get charged back to a guest.

Instead of tariff, availability and supply of water has to be more equitable.

How did the idea of 'Paani' come to you?
I believe it was Bansilal - the politician - who pointed to the disparity between the urban wastage of water and the rural scarcity of water.

One day I was waiting at a friend's home at Malabar Hill. He was taking shower for more than half an hour. So I left and on my way, at the Dharavi slums, I saw long queues for water. That prompted to reflect upon it.

One understands water shortage, but does this prophecy of war over water shortage amount to overstretching the argument?
Imagine if a city like Mumbai runs out of water. The problem may start with privatization of water. The Coca Cola groundwater dispute in Kerala is an example of conflict over water. If I had said in 1965 that people would bottle water and sell it at a good price, you would have considered me mad. But that's what you have today.

A war over water may sound preposterous today but you see there are conflicts over water world over.

Turkey is important because rivers run through it. The conflict over Golan Heights carries a crucial water element. Indo-Pak conflict had water disputes as India threatened to block the Sutlej. Malaysia and Singapore have had strained relations over water.

There was an interesting example in Singapore with waste water being recycled and Prime Minister drinking the purified water on a broadcasted TV program.

With water tables going down, in time to come, the scale of disputes over water will surely go up.

Are there any alternatives?
Ground water is not available. Sea water usage is energy inefficient. It can be expensive. Reverse Osmosis can be considered. Perhaps nanotechnology is the way out. If we have nano particles that are chemically stable, then salt crystals can be blocked. It is a frightening problem when a city can go through water shortage. All this talk of 8-9% growth rate is meaningless if we run out of water. Factories could get closed. There could be mass migration. There could be wars.

And hence 'Paani' leads a discourse in water.
'Paani' is the story of such a city in 2035. Water wars have already begun. 15% of the population own water resources and the remaining 85% fight for it. Water has been privatized. There are international protocols that dictate that those who own water must give some amount to the rest. But there is black marketing of water with social repercussions.

There could be a situation when politicians proclaim 'Vote Dooge to Paani Milega'. Water can be used to control and exploit people.

People may not come to work. It could be a situation where people will go to companies based on the availability of water. 'Paani to milta hai peene ko!!!'

Rich will get water due to their political connections.
Slums won't have water. There could be social unrest. 'Paani' has a scene where people attack a car to steal water from radiator.

'Paan'i has a city with highways above highways. And there is this lady living below a highway whose water availability is decreasing day by day.

I am exploring the contours of the script.

Why is 'Paani' set in future?
I was hassled by the censor board over 'Bandit Queen'. I did not want to make anything anti-establishment. Hence this movie is set in future.

Your focus is on urban cities. Are you not ignoring rural water shortage?
There have been movies depicting water shortage in rural areas - 'Guide' and 'Lagaan'. But what happens when there is a water shortage in congested urban area which is a financial and administrative centre - that is my thematic concern.

But collapse of cities - isn't it carrying the idea bit too far?
Well, there could be a situation where a city like New York would get water supply only in bits and pieces.

Tuglakabad is a case in history. It was destroyed due to the water shortage. People would abandon cities due to water shortage.

Probably a public figure must stand for water.
Agree. Somebody must raise the issue of water. I am happy to lead it. You have water in Mumbai. But what about Chennai? Delhi?
We need to do something much more drastic. A city like Mumbai must reduce water usage. A penny saved is a penny earned. Water availability is not enough. There could be a disaster.

Why does such a situation of water shortage arise?
It's purely due to inequitable and unmindful usage of water. We have a situation where rich have water in swimming pools but farmers don't get water to irrigate their lands.

Morocco used to have water cisterns over each house. Now they have golf courses in Marrakesh to attract French tourists. But these tourists would abandon you once you run out of water.

Certainly yours is an attempt of socially responsible cinema.

We have had socially responsible cinema with a message. Guru Dutt and 'Mother India' and so on. 'Tare Zameen Par' is an interesting example.

Many people feel that only commercial cinema can succeed. You see, the audience is clever. Making an entertainment movie is easy. While 'Om Shaanti Om' may be a bigger hit, people will remember 'Tare Zameen Par' longer.

How should socially responsible cinema be created?
There is a need to address community issues. I am making a movie and lending my voice. It is a participative process. You may also involve people through internet.

Can citizen involvement bring some change?
Yes. You see the beach in Juhu was so bad. Now I see these college students cleaning it. It is possible. It is happening.

Read More about Pani on Shekhar Kapur's website

http://www.indiawaterportal.org/Network/interview/citizens/sk_eng.html

25 ways to save water at home

Even in areas where water seems abundant, water conservation is important.

In addition to saving money on your utility bill, water conservation helps prevent water pollution in nearby lakes, rivers and local watersheds.
Conserving water can extend the life of your septic system by reducing soil saturation, and reducing any pollution due to leaks. Overloading municipal sewer systems can also cause untreated sewage to flow to lakes and rivers. The smaller the amount of water flowing through these systems, the lower the likelihood of pollution. In some communities, costly sewage system expansion has been avoided by communitywide household water conservation

in the home...1. Check for hidden water leaks
Read the house water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.

2. Check your toilets for leaks
Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately. Most replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to install.

3. Don't use the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket
Every time you flush a cigarette butt, facial tissue or other small bit of trash, five to seven gallons of water is wasted.

4. Put plastic bottles in your toilet tank
To cut down on water waste, put an inch or two of sand or pebbles inside each of two plastic bottles to weigh them down. Fill the bottles with water, screw the lids on, and put them in your toilet tank, safely away from the operating mechanisms. This may save ten or more gallons of water per day. Be sure at least 3 gallons of water remain in the tank so it will flush properly.
For new installations, consider buying "low flush" toilets, which use 1 to 2 gallons per flush instead of the usual 3 to 5 gallons.

Replacing an 18 liter per flush toilet with an ultra-low volume (ULV) 6 liter flush model represents a 70% savings in water flushed and will cut indoor water use by about 30%.

5. Insulate your water pipes.
It's easy and inexpensive to insulate your water pipes with pre-slit foam pipe insulation. You'll get hot water faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats up.

6. Install water-saving shower heads and low-flow faucet aerators
Inexpensive water-saving shower heads or restrictors are easy for the homeowner to install. Also, long, hot showers can use five to ten gallons every unneeded minute. Limit your showers to the time it takes to soap up, wash down and rinse off.
You can easily install a ShowerStart showerhead, or add a ShowerStart converter to existing showerheads, which automatically pauses a running shower once it gets warm.
Also, all household faucets should be fit with aerators. This single best home water conservation method is also the cheapest!

7. Take shorter showers.
One way to cut down on water use is to turn off the shower after soaping up, then turn it back on to rinse. A four-minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water.

8. Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush
There is no need to keep the water running while brushing your teeth. Just wet your brush and fill a glass for mouth rinsing.

9. Rinse your razor in the sink
Fill the sink with a few inches of warm water. This will rinse your razor just as well as running water, with far less waste of water

10. Check faucets and pipes for leaks
A small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste 20 gallons of water per day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds of gallons.

11. Use your dishwasher and clothes washer for only full loads
Automatic dishwashers and clothes washers should be fully loaded for optimum water conservation. With clothes washers, avoid the permanent press cycle, which uses an added 20 liters (5 gallons) for the extra rinse. For partial loads, adjust water levels to match the size of the load. Replace old clothes washers. New Energy Star rated washers use 35 - 50% less water and 50% less energy per load. If you're in the market for a new clothes washer, consider buying a water-saving frontload washer.

12. Minimize use of kitchen sink garbage disposal units
In sink 'garburators' require lots of water to operate properly, and also add considerably to the volume of solids in a septic tank which can lead to maintenance problems. Start a compost pile or use an indoor kitchen composter as alternate methods of disposing food waste.

13. When washing dishes by hand, don't leave the water running for rinsing
If your have a double-basin, fill one with soapy water and one with rinse water. If you have a single-basin sink, gather washed dishes in a dish rack and rinse them with a spray device or a panful of hot water.

14. Don't let the faucet run while you clean vegetables
Just rinse them in a stoppered sink or a pan of clean water.

15. Keep a bottle of drinking water in the fridge.
Running tap water to cool it off for drinking water is wasteful.

in the yard and garden...

16. Water your lawn only when it needs it
A good way to see if your lawn needs watering is to step on the grass. If it springs back up when you move, it doesn't need water. If it stays flat, the lawn is ready for watering. Letting the grass grow taller (to 3") will promote water retention in the soil.

17. Deep-soak your lawn
When watering the lawn, do it long enough for the moisture to soak down to the roots where it will do the most good. A light sprinkling can evaporate quickly and tends to encourage shallow root systems. Put an empty tuna can on your lawn - when it's full, you've watered about the right amount. Visit our natural lawn care page for more information.

18. Water during the early parts of the day; avoid watering when it's windy
Early morning is generally better than dusk since it helps prevent the growth of fungus. Early watering, and late watering, also reduce water loss to evaporation. Watering early in the day is also the best defence against slugs and other garden pests. Try not to water when it's windy - wind can blow sprinklers off target and speed evaporation.

19. Use efficient watering systems for shrubs, flower beds and lawns
You can greatly reduce the amount of water used for shrubs, beds and lawns with strategic placement of soaker hoses, rain barrel catchment systems and simple drip-irrigation systems. A watering meter can be easily added to your hose, and lawn sprinlker timers can be used to set water usage to required needs.

20. Plant drought-resistant shrubs and plants
Many beautiful shrubs and plants thrive with far less watering than other species. Replace herbaceous perennial borders with native plants. Consider applying the principles of xeriscape for a low-maintenance, drought resistant yard.

21. Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants
Mulch will slow evaporation of moisture while discouraging weed growth.

22. Don't water the gutter
Position your sprinklers so water lands on the lawn or garden, not on paved areas. Also, avoid watering on windy days.

23. Don't run the hose while washing your car
Clean the car using a pail of soapy water. Use the hose only for rinsing - this simple practice can save as much as 150 gallons when washing a car. Use a spray nozzle when rinsing for more efficient use of water. Better yet, use a waterless car washing system; there are several brands, such as EcoTouch, which are now on the market.

24. Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks

25. Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, faucets and couplings
Leaks outside the house may not seem as bad since they're not as visible. But they can be just as wasteful as leaks indoors. Check frequently to keep them drip-free. Use hose washers at spigots and hose connections to eliminate leaks.

‘Congress being in the centre doesn't help me ’

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit tells MIHIR SRIVASTAVA that the Commonwealth Games’ critics are being irresponsible

The Commonwealth Games have become controversial on so many counts. How do you react to the charges?
Let me make it very clear that nothing is being done for the Commonwealth Games that will compromise the capability of Delhi to host such a game. For such international events, I don’t take governments as important. Political governments will come and go, but this is a question of national prestige. I am just not able to understand why people are running it down.

Are the ecological concerns over constructing the commonwealth games village on the riverbed justified?
You want Delhi ecologically safe, fine. I am the most ecologically sensitive person. But nobody objected to the Akshardham temple coming up on the riverbed. This village is just next to it.

Why is there so much of criticism?
I don’t know. I think people are being irresponsible. I don’t want to take names but those who are doing this are doing the country no good.

Criticism is coming from cabinet members. The sports minister is concerned about the escalating cost.
Yes, the escalation should not be so much, But we have to account for the inflation rate. Then the question is who is causing the escalation. We are the ones responsible for the delay in decisions.

Another Union minister, who is also a local MP, says that we should plan infrastructure development keeping Delhi’s needs in mind and not peg it entirely to a sporting event.
What is going to happen after the Games? The infrastructure that is being made for it, the infrastructure that is being upgraded, is it not going to be a legacy for us? Or is somebody else going to take it?

One of your ministers has said that the games provide Delhi an opportunity to be a world city. What is your vision of a world city?
Delhi is a great heritage city. It has green spaces that very few big cities have. It has a weak public transport system which is being upgraded. By 2010 we will have modern buses and 270 kilometers of the Metro. The power situation will be much better. These are add-ons which Delhi requires. If people want to be cynical, there is always something to find fault with.

Is Delhi the only city where we can host games of this magnitude?
This is the only city that has the availability and the capacity to host the Games despite the multiple centres of governance.

Is that a problem?
It’s terrible. The land belongs to the DDA which comes under the Ministry of Urban Development. We are at their mercy. Then, you have the MCD which does the basic civic services and falls under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Now the MHA does not have the time to care for one silly municipality. We do not have the police under us. So what do we do?

You have painted a sorry picture. How do you manage?
It’s just the goodwill. When people talk to me about insecurity felt by girls in Delhi, I empathise with them, I know it myself. I keep telling them (Delhi Police) to have more vans manned by women. Please get at least one women in every thana. But I have no powers over them.

Does the fact that the Congress is in power at the centre help? You were also the CM when the NDA was in power.
I think nobody wants to part with whatever turf they have. There is no advantage. The evolution of Delhi’s administrative system has been such that nobody wants to tinker with it.


From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 5, Issue 12, Dated Mar 29, 2008

Gurgaon hit by water crisis

Gurgaon's acute water shortage since Friday is unlikely to improve in the next two days, though district administration claimed on Sunday that it would push more water tankers to increase water supply. The water crisis has been caused due to the breach in water supply channel twice at Bupania village in Jhajjar district in last few days, reportedly by farmers to irrigate their fields.

The worst affected areas are the colonies which completely depend on canal water whereas the situation is little better in private colonies where residents are overdependent on ground water. According to Gurgaon deputy commissioner Rakesh Gupta, the first breach was reported on March 17 and water was supplied to the city from the reservoirs of HUDA. Another breach has occurred at the same site, which has aggravated the crisis.

He said HUDA officials have been directed to increase the water storage capacity and also to explore an alternate source of water for Gurgaon. The deputy commissioner said that 30 percent of the area of Gurgaon city receives water from tube well and 70 percent area depended on canal water. The worst affected areas are the western part of the city, including sector 4, 7, 22, 23, 10A, and adjoining areas. To meet the demand, the district administration has requisitioned nearly 700 water tankers in the district to reach Gurgaon, including tankers from the army

Meanwhile, public health chief secretary Dharam Vir told Times City, "The repair work has been going on. The exact cause of the breach is being investigated. We are taking all possible steps to prevent such incidents by putting a dedicated police post at this site and police patrolling on this stretch will be intensified."

Highly placed sources said that in all probability the repair work will be complete by Tuesday and only 12 hours later would the water supply start. Residents could get piped water only by Wednesday morning.

HUDA administrator Srikant Walgad said that drinking water in HUDA areas was supplied from 71 tube wells and that the minimum requirement of water would be met in the entire city. Acute water shortage has been reported from G block of DLF-I, DLF-III. In areas such as sector-23, each house got about 300 litres of water on Sunday. "We hope to get more tankers to supply water until the canal supply is restored. It's difficult to manage life with such little water," said B S Tripathy, a resident.

dipak.dash@timesgroup.com
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Acute_water_shortage_in_Gurgaon/articleshow/2892995.cms

Bulldozing lives alongside a listless river

One of the oldest and largest slums in India, the Yamuna Pushta settlement in Delhi, was home to nearly 4000 families, housing more than 1,50,000 people. Ruzbeh N Bharucha's book takes the reader into the lives of those poor families, whose past, present and future, were brutally demolished when the settlement was razed to ground in 2004. Michael Higgins reviews the book

Located on a three km stretch along the Yamuna River in Delhi, the Yamuna Pushta slum was one of the largest slums in India. Some 40,000 homes provided shelter for over 150,000 people. Over the course of 40 years, Yamuna Pushta had developed into a thriving community. Schools, crèches, healthcare centres, shops, restaurants and business enterprises sprang up and social organisations worked closely with the local community to bring about improvements in the lives of the residents.

In 2004, in a matter of weeks, this flourishing settlement was razed to the ground. Those who weren't thrown on to the street were forced to relocate 40 km away from the city to a barren plot of land, which lacked even the most basic amenities.
Yamuna Gently Weeps tells the heartrending story of the poor families who lost not just their homes, but their past, present and future, with the callous demolition at Yamuna Pushta. Author, journalist and film-maker, Ruzbeh N. Bharucha was present throughout the demolition process. Shocked to witness such a clear demonstration of the heartlessness of those in power, Bharucha determined to produce a film and accompanying photo-book to "highlight the pain, the agony, the helplessness and the courage of the poor as well as the total lack of respect and profound apathy with which the authorities treat the poor and the helpless of our country".

In the most evocative of manners, through candid interviews with slum dwellers, politicians, town-planners and activists, as well as 200 superbly taken photographs, the author allows us a posthumous glimpse of how the residents of Yamuna Pushta lived, how they reacted to the demolition of the slum and how they now struggle to overcome the devastating effects of its loss.
The work begins with an impassioned introduction by the author. It soon becomes apparent that Bharucha has a heart for the less fortunate. His writing style is edgy, polemical and intensely compelling. The introductory text is complemented by a striking set of contrasting images. One picture, taken prior to the demolition, depicts a bustling, if dilapidated, neighbourhood. The other, taken subsequent to the demolition, portrays an utterly desolate wasteland, reminiscent of Dresden after fire-bombing or Hiroshima in the wake of the atomic bomb.

The book is broadly divided into sections. The first section chiefly consists of interviews with the residents themselves accompanied by pictures from daily life in Yamuna Pushta. The residents talk about their lives in the slums and their fears for the future. One particularly harrowing account is that of Shakir and his family. Shakir was a working man, with four young children going to school. His father was Yamuna Pushta's oldest resident. Beneath the distressing sight of an elderly man sobbing inconsolably, Bharucha tells us that "Shakir's old father was so overwhelmed by the thought of being uprooted from his home – a place he had spent more than three decades and seen his sons and daughters and his grandchildren thrive – that for a long time, he was incapable of speaking. He wept like a child". We are informed that he died just a few months after the demolitions. To make matters worse, we learn that Shakir will no longer be able to afford to educate his children.

Bleak wasteland

This section also takes a look at the vain efforts of those residents 'lucky' enough to be placed in 'resettlement colonies', such as Holambi Kalan and Bawana, to put their lives back together. The author tells the story, or rather lets the residents tell their own story, of what their lives used to be like, of the place and role they had in their community in Yamuna Pushta and how the transition has transformed their lives, invariably for the worse. A common story emerges of a bleak and inhospitable wasteland devoid of schools, hospitals, childcare facilities, adequate sanitation or security, and worst of all in the eyes of the residents, miles away from their livelihoods. The dire situation of the slum-dwellers of Yamuna Pushta is further compounded by the use of Begging Laws to criminalise residents who suddenly find themselves with no home.
The second part of the work primarily consists of interviews with renowned experts, politician, environmentalists, social activists, academics and planners, who provide unique and informative perspectives.

Duplicity and intrigue

The questions posed by the author are incisive, do not pull any punches and make for uncomfortable fielding from some of the interviewees, especially those who were keen to support the demolition. This lends the work a very immediate and engaging quality. To be fair to the respondents, even those who face an interrogative grilling provide interesting analyses and perspectives on the destruction of the slums. Even respondents towards whom the author might be assumed to be hostile are given ample opportunity to express their views. Through these interviews a complex story of intense political manoeuvring, duplicity and intrigue emerges. It also becomes apparent that the residents were neglected in their hour of need by the political establishment. Subjects of outright hostility by the BJP and abandonment by the Congress, the residents were left to their own fate.

During his interview, Jagmohan, chief architect of the demolitions, constantly stresses the importance of discipline and vision. In searching for an example of bad planning he refers to a middle-class family's experience in Defence Colony. This shows where his concerns lie. There is no space in his heart for the forsaken residents of Yamuna Pushta. He callously discounts the traumatic impact of their enforced departure. As if it was easy to be wrenched from one life and turfed into another.

The attitude of the Judiciary also comes in for much warranted criticism. Despite much deserved praise for their approach in regard to other fields such as the right to food, in this instance they showed themselves to be completely oblivious to the effect of their judgments on the plight of slum-dwellers. No attempts were made to ensure that rehabilitation measures were in place to provide for the transition. The relevance of the Yamuna Pushta example for today is clear from the fact that the same attitude is now being displayed towards an admittedly more affluent group, the traders, although it must be noted that neither the BJP nor Congress were falling over themselves to seek a halt to the demolitions or compensation for the residents of Yamuna Pushta.
They can portray themselves as simply implementing the law, but why is it always the poor that have to make the sacrifices for corrupt or inadequate planning? It is all too easy for the court and administrators to frame the debate as an encroachment issue and not as an issue concerning the violation of the fundamental rights of residents. The poor seem to be the only ones expected to show discipline. No one is denying that Delhi is undergoing a planning crisis but the completely heartless approach taken by the court, which involved the removal of some residents of 40 years to a distant, barren area with limited amenities, services and livelihood prospects, and the eviction of the other 80 per cent of persons, directly on to the street, is surely an inadequate solution. Jagmohan and the Courts try to wash their hands by proclaiming that they are merely implementing the law. But as Bharucha points out, the law seems to be implemented on a very selective basis. One of the principal arguments for the destruction of the Yamuna slums was that they were responsible for polluting the river. However, experts such as Amita Baviskar attest in the book that the slums were responsible for less than one percent of total pollution. In contrast to the rigour shown in applying the law to Yamuna Pushta, in the case of other developments, such as the Secretariat, the Metro and the Akshardham Temple, there was no urgency shown to enforce compliance with planning standards. The Master Plan is assumed to be sacred only as and when it suits the whims of the land lobby and those in power.

The dire situation of the slum-dwellers of Yamuna Pushta is further compounded by the use of Begging Laws to criminalise residents who suddenly find themselves with no home


The work is interspersed with striking imagery. The design of the work and the strength of the images attest to the author's talents as a film-maker. The pictures are evocative of the life of the slums, vibrant in colour and brilliantly capture the mood, scene and atmosphere. The work is, after all, a photo-book to accompany the film of the same name and it is the melting of the visual images with forceful text that really sets this book apart. The shots of the demolition are particularly moving. It seems that one is almost present at the demolitions.
This work is noteworthy in that it gives a face and voice to a marginalised people who might otherwise have been neglected. Yamuna Gently Weeps finally allows the residents the opportunity to speak, something which was not afforded to them by the mainstream media, which instead imposed a complete black out of coverage on the demolition of the slums.

Out of sight out of mind

With all the talk of India Shining it suits certain interests to look away from the darker aspects of India's development path. The utter neglect of rural development and agrarian reforms and the complete disregard shown for the concerns of the rural poor has led to the destruction of communities and cultures besides a massive influx of migrants to the cities. Although providing the necessary backbone of the economy, being reminded of how these migrants to cities like Delhi.


The reviewer has done LLM, International Peace Support Operations,
Irish Centre for Human Rights, Galway, Ireland.

The only organic solution to water control!

Life Giving Enterprises:
Company Reg. No. CC.2000/030230/23


Company Introduction:

Life Giving Enterprises in South Africa

Dave Gaybba rooted Life Giving Enterprises in South African soil for various reasons, such as:
Dave Gaybba is a South-African

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Because of South Africas hot temperatures, our water is sensitive to blue - green algae, which will effect our drinking water and natural water resources. South Africa needs our organic solution to help restore the state of water.
The heart of our founder and Managing Director is with the under privileged, previously oppressed, nations in South Africa and with the help of wisdom, aim to create opportunities to uplift communities and as the name say Give Life to the nations.

Life Giving Enterprises will of course in the future, extend to other parts of the world but will always remain
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Heal Unbalanced or Polluted Water.

Breakdown, dissolve and Isolate Dangerous Waste Materials & Gasses, while restoring a Natural Balance.

Neutralize the Waste Materials & the Overripe Stage in the Sedimentary Layer.

Eliminate & Prevent Rotting.

Neutralize the Bad Odors.

Control and Regulate the Groth of Algae & Plant

Preventing an Over Growth that will Result in an unbalanced Ecology.

Restore a Natural Balanced Ecology that will Guarantee a Healthier Enviroment.

Control and Eliminate Blue Green Algae:

This is the only Organic Way to Destroy Blue Green Algae in the World, without Negative Side Effects to Our Enviroment:

REGARDING THE TREATMENTS OF:

ARTIFICIAL WETLANDS, CANALS & WATERFEATURES in and around SHOPPING CENTERS

The problems with these Systems, which gather a lot of Waste Materials such as Plant Materials, Bird & Fish Droppings are that the Sediment Accumulates at a high rate. Bare in mind, that the source feeding is usually also high in micro-nutrients and would worsen the above situation. A slow inflow then causes more sediment buildup (in an anaerobic state) which causes ammonia production.

This could of course threaten the Life Span of such a Beautiful feature, seeing that an unbalanced ecology will result in chaos. It can promote the outbreak of various pests and diseases, killing of the water and sometimes even the bird life as well as other extreme disasters, such as the Ecoli virus.

The option to reduce the gasses and micro - nutrients, up till now, was to use chlorine but this however causes the water and the wetlands to be more vulnerable to ecological instability.

Our organic treatment is the new, revolutionary solution to problems and we guarantee to give your feature an unlimited live span with a balanced natural ecology and surrounding environment, (bird life, etc,).

This treatment is designed to naturally control and maintain the sediment, which in an unbalanced state,is the breeding ground for dangerous viruses such as the Ecoli virus.

It will also neutralize the micro - nutrient levels, resulting in very low ammonia levels.

The anaerobic breakdown will be minimized and it will also thin out the rotting sludge in the sediment, while it restores a healthy natural ecological balance.

It is proven that aquatic and micro aquatic life flourishes in water containing our treatments and through all the tests no negative impact on the water, aquatic life or ecology has ever been detected. We even hatched daphnia eggs in water that were overdosed with our treatment, no negative impact, We raised them and they flourished in numbers.

These treatments also control and balance the plant growths, seeing that an overgrowth of plants occurs only in unbalanced of, micro - nutrient water, healing the water also balances the plant growth.

Our treatment is made of natural non-toxic 110% Pure Plant Materials and therefore we know that it is not toxic for human or animal consumption and or any other form of life in the water.

TESTEMONIALS:

The Northern Suburbs Parks Board Authority, Authorized and Approved our Treatment to be used in any Parks Board Dam and or System, such as Wetlands, Golf Courses etc. ( Records on File )

THE EFFECT THAT OUR 100% ORGANIC WATER TREATMENTS HAVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, GRASS, PLANTS, ETC.

This letter is to confirm that our organic treatments have no negative effect on any plants or interfere negatively with the natural germination of seeds or growth of plants, grass etc in any way. Our organic treatments are made from natural, non-toxic, plant materials and are environment friendly!

Research done on plants with our treatments:

We have germinated seeds in our treatment and used it in salads (sprouts) for human consumption with no unusual taste, fragrance or any side effects. We’ve also grown various seeds, such as tomatoes in this treatment and had no negative results, results was in fact remarkable; better quality, taste, color and life span.

Golf Courses have done tests on their Sensitive Imported Grass and could detect no negative result, in fact the color was brighter and the grass appeared healthier than ever!

Our research proves that:

Our organic treatment can be used for agricultural purposes.

It is safe to germinate seeds & grow plants effectively

The water containing our treatment can be used for watering the lawn, trees, plants,
etc, with no negative impact.

Our treatment is safe for human consumption.

Our treatment is Eco-friendly and will not harm the surrounding environment.


Solutions to the Drinking Water Industry:

From the inflow of Catchment Dams to the Release of Sewerage back into the Rivers:

The industry is trying to cope with symptoms of over loaded (polluted) rivers, dams, systems and sewerage works. The sediment however, builds up over the years in the rivers, catchments dams, drinking water treatment dams and plants, to a thick layer of rotting sludge (anaerobic). This produces enormous amounts of ammonia and other gasses (nitrogen cycle) and then causes unnecessary organic matter (algae growth) which then in the flocculation stage, are forced down in an anaerobic state, causing rotting and gas production (ammonia, etc) and more waste (rotting) material in the under layer. This will leave the water with bad odors and toxins.

Our product is proven to solve all these problems, cut down on running costs and lengthen the life span of treatment plants. It will decrease waste production and leave the water and sediment odorless, with no traces of toxins.

Will keep the under layer in a healthy condition with a low percentage of gas production, it will also control the algae growth, eliminate bad odors within minutes, leaving the water with very low ammonia levels.

This is the only organic treatment that controls and eliminates blue green algae.

The benefit of our miraculous working, organic treatment is that you can use it immediately, with remarkable results, in the critical areas and then at a later stage, phase it into the source feeding plants.

Is proven to flocculate on an ongoing basis, which will eventually result in better quality, cleaner in flowing water. Containing a very low percentage of gas (ammonia & micro-nutrients) and TSS (Total Suspended Solids), which in turn will result in lower running costs and of course, clean, healthy, quality water.

Sewerage plants plays a great part in the pollution problem but can now benefit and prevent pollution by making use of our organic revolutionary treatment, which will guarantee cleaner, healthier water being released into our rivers.


REGARDING TESTS DONE ON DIFFERENT DAMS

The before and after results


Paardevlei Dam:

Blue Green Algae 8 Year Problem:

We took a sample of the blue green algae water and the over ripe sedimentary layer, from the Paardevlei Dam and treated it with our organic treatment. Within 3 days results were remarkable.

The ammonia level dropped by 25%.
The phosphate level dropped by 37%.

The sulphar production neutralized.

The bad odors neutralized within 14 days.

Also very important, was the ammonia, phosphate and T.S.S. levels which dropped tremendously within 3 days after the first treatment was applied, the total suspended solids dropped 66%. This we do know, it is of great value for the drinking water industry.

The most remarkable, was the fact that these positive results occurred after only two treatments with our organic treatment. Tests also showed that the flocculated material is in an anaerobic state and remains controlled.

Alga blooms and alga growths are caused by concentrated micro - nutrients in the water. Our tests proved that our organic treatments eliminates all types of algae growth and in some extreme cases we could reduce it by 95%, this results in less waste materials, which is of great importance to the drinking water industry.

The Welgedacht Dam of about 33 Million liter Capacity, storm water parks board Dam, treated with only 60 liters of our Organic Concentrate Treatment.

This Dam was in a total rotting stage, causing fish to die in great numbers. The ammonia and sulphur production was extremely high children living in the area developed respiratory problems and various ailments. Lawyer letters was send to the Parks Board of the Region, Demanding a Solution.

We treated the dam with 60 liters of our revolutionary organic treatment in June 1993 and within a week the gas production neutralized and no bad odors could be detected.

The Dams under layer had built up enormously with an excessive overgrowth of plants and waste material. 6 Months after treating the dam with our treatment, the state of the Dam was restored to its naturally balanced ecological state. There is a healthy presence of aquatic and micro life present, with a balanced plant growth.

The summer rainfall (after the dam was treated) was very low and for 3 months the Dam had no inflow but the gray, garden waste - water, which is highly polluted. The volume of the Dam dropped by 25% but stayed stable, with very low micro - nutrients and a thin healthy sedimentary layer.

Please note:

All the micro nutrient levels are extremely low

The algae count is low.

The T.S.S. numbers is due to ongoing flocculation

Research Projects in the natural water resources:

After the above research and findings, we realised that the plant materials that we use in our treatments could not only benefit the aquamarine industry but also other industries where there has been trouble controlling or creating a natural water ecology. As in the natural water resources, wetlands and estuaries, which suffer from tampered water ecology and the symptoms thereof, such as bad odours or blue green algae that enhances in very hot and dry temperatures.

Our research proves that:

The largest problems today with Our Natural Water Resources are the chemical and natural waste products that are entering the Rivers and Dams in different ways. These toxic chemicals and natural waste products disturb and sometimes even destroy the ecology of the water. A lower inflow of rainwater now causes a catastrophic explosion because of the circumstances and wrong doing in the name of INDUSTRIALIZATION and MODERNIZING SOCIETY.
The inability to biologically breakdown waste materials now causes overripe water that results in an over production of ammonia, nitrates and phosphates. Which in - turn lead to an overgrowth of algae and plants. This process will repeat itself until it reaches a catastrophic stage where oxygen are forced out of the water by higher density gasses. Oxygen will be available in such low levels and start to kill off the fish and other water life, which will enhance the disaster.

After designing the Treatments for the Aquamarine Industry, focus was turned into the natural water resources field, where we have accomplished miraculous results. This project was more challenging and excitement arose with the remarkable results of doing a test on a 350liter Dam, filled with ordinary tap water. Added into the water were dead plant materials (approximately 2/3 of the volume were filled with the plants).
1. The dam was left with the dead plant materials for a period of 2 weeks, allowing it to rot.
2. No water were changed, topped up or circulated.
3. After a 2 Week period, the bad odours could be detected 30m away, without the influence of a strong gust.
4. 400ml special designed organic treatment was added.

The results:

3 DAYS AFTER ADDING THE TREATMENT, THE WATER WAS ODOURLESS AND IN A STABLE CONDITION
.
THE DARK COLOUR AND THE DENSENESS, CAUSED BY THE ROTTEN PLANT MATERIALS, CLEARED UP.

After these results, we then added fish into this treated water, without any filter system or aeration and were amazed when found that the fish remained in a good, healthy condition.

THERE WERE NO TRACES OF THE OUTBREAK OF ANY PESTS AND DISEASES.

THE EXCESS GRASS AND WEEDS SLOWLY DISSOLVED WITHOUT ROTTING.

The conclusion was that the mixture of the non-toxic plant materials, later called Bio-Clean, increases the oxygen levels in the water, while breaking down and isolating waste materials. It then also absorbs into the sedimentary layer where it biologically balances the micro - nutrients, healing the water ecology and eliminating the bad odours. The overgrowth of plants and algae can now also be balanced, seeing that plant and algae thrive when the water is unbalanced and too rich in micro - nutrients. Because this is not a chemical solution and the plant materials are none toxic, it will have no negative effect on the environment and water life.

History with Parks board:

The remarkable results with our organic treatments then caused us to move to natural water resources in May 2003, for further research.
We approached the Parks Board in the northern suburbs of Cape Town and became acquainted with Mr. Sybrand Burger. He informed us that they have problems (rotting water) with certain storm water dams in up market residential areas and that they already received lawyer letters to find a solution for these problems. The public was highly concerned due to children developing respiratory problems (asthma), headaches and other related health problems caused by the poisonous vapors.

After completing small tests for Mr. Burger, we were asked to treat a Dam in Welgedacht near Durbanville Area, with a capacity of approximately 33 million liters. We treated the dam with 50 liters of our special concentrate, Bio-Clean.

With the Inspection, we have found overgrowth of plants, excess waste materials and algae growth, which caused the dam to be in a peak rotting and gas production stage.

The dam was treated the 3rd of July 2003 and after 2 weeks Mr. Peter Kay (responsible manager for the dam) responded with impressive results

THE BAD ODOURS NEUTRALISED AND THE WATER CLEARED UP.

AFTER A MONTH, THE OVERGROWTH PLANTS STARTED TO SLOWLY DIE OFF WITHOUT PRODUCING ROTTING WASTE MATERIALS.

EVER SINCE, THE ECOLOGY OF THE WATER HAS BEEN RESTORED AND THE PLANT AND ALGAE GROWTH IS CONTROLLED AND WELL BALANCED.

This dam is now on our maintenance program, which keeps the water in a healthy condition while maintaining a natural ecology.

For more information about the treating of the Welgedacht dam and confirmation, please do contact:

Mr. Sybrand Burger PH 021 – 938 8530, Parks board, Northern Suburbs
Mr.. Peter Kay PH 021 – 948 8716.

Water for All Is Privatisation the Only Solution?

The day is not far off, when water will cost more than oil”, thundered a Syrian delegate at the first UN World Conference on Water and Sanitation in 1977. A quarter century later, it appears that if the `think tanks’ of the water sector have their way, we will soon be very close to such a social reality.

According to the report of the World Water Commission, only private firms can provide the enormous capital needed to fix the world’s water problems and usher in an era of plenty by the year 2025. Pursuing this privatisation logic further, the World Bank, states that there is now a global consensus that, “…the annual investment required by 2025 to meet the world’s needs for water for irrigation, industry, water supply and sanitation, and environmental management will increase to $180 billion, from the current $70–80 billion. Such a massive change can be achieved only if developing countries are able to create an investment climate conducive to the private sector and to absorb these investments. Both tasks will require political stability and attention to governance and institutions - particularly property rights, rule of law, transparency, and participation.”

This privatisation agenda has found its way into several national water policies of governments across the globe. For instance, the Indian government dutifully parrots this in the National Water Policy of 2003. Article 13 of the Policy reads, “Private sector participation should be encouraged in planning, development and management of water resources for diverse use, wherever possible”.

At the heart of the proposals, arguing for the privatisation of the earth’s water resources is the principle that, “Water has an economic value in all its competing uses and should be recognised as an economic good. Managing water as an economic good is an important way of achieving efficient and equitable use, and of encouraging conservation and protection of water resources.” A principle that is consistent with neo-liberal logic of the present phase of corporate led globalisation.

Today, water is big business. The entire water sector, including wastewater treatment, is estimated at $200 billion. According to a 1999 OECD summary of Environmental Business International statistics, water utilities account for $73.2 billion out of the total global environmental market of $453 billion for goods and services. However, these figures seem a gross underestimation if water is considered as an input to agriculture and other industrial applications. The industry estimates global trade in water to be close to $7 trillion.

Water, a source of life, and a social good for all is rapidly being reduced to an economic good as the logic of neo liberal globalisation sweeps across the globe in the developed north as well as in the South - in Latin America, Africa, Asia. The commodification and privatisation of the world's waters is now presented as the only ‘road map’ available to provide for the universal access to water and environmental sustainability.

This issue of Combat Law is devoted to some of the concerns that arise out of this overwhelming emphasis on the privatisation of the water sector, primarily human rights concerns on the fundamental right of every living being on this planet to adequate water. This paper, however, attempts to look at some of the questions that arise from recent developments in the water sector - especially the overarching trend of privatisation. First, to the nature of the global water crisis as it is constructed and presented; second as to what is the nature of the so called `global consensus’ on water privatisation. Lastly, to the implications and experience so far with this `chosen path’ to provide water for all. But first to the crisis.

The Nature of the ‘Crisis’
Some basic facts are well known. Only 3 per cent of the water on earth is fresh and most of it is locked away in the ice caps or is in deep underground aquifers. As a result only 0.3 percent of global water is available for human consumption. Over the next 20 years, it is estimated that the average supply of water worldwide per person is expected to drop by a third. Water scarcity or stress - or having less than 1,700 cubic metres of water a person a year - would affect about 40 per cent of the world population. Chronic water shortage now affects 8 per cent.

The Three W’s of Water
Three international organisations, play a critical and key role in shaping the world’s views, approach to the world’s water problems.

The first, The World Water Forum is a tri-annual gathering of water experts and aimed at solving the world’s water problems. The Forum is the brainchild of the World Water Council the second organisation, a private think tank established in 1996. Among the members who helped in the formation of this Forum are UN Agencies like UNCIF, UNDP, FAO, the World Bank, IUCN and water companies like the Lyonnaise des Eaux.

The first meeting of the Forum took place in Marrakesh (1997) and since then it has met twice, at The Hague (2000) and in Kyoto in 2003. The Forum is not a platform for presenting papers, but a venue for participants to share their experiences on actions and practices that facilitate solutions to water problems.

Third major international player in the water business is the Global Water Partnership, which is a working partnership among all those involved in water management, government agencies, private companies and multilateral development agencies. The Partnership serves as a mechanism for alliance building and information exchange on integrated water resource development.

The Council produced The World Water Vision as a comprehensive document providing a long-term vision of water, life and environment. It established the World Water Commission as a forum to translate this vision into reality. The report of the World Water Commission was presented to the world by the former president of the erstwhile Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev at the World water Forum at The Hague. The report outlines the steps to be taken to solve the world water problems, which include full-cost recovery, wiping out of subsidies and off course privatisation.

The Global Water Partnership was provided the task to develop and guide a `framework of Action’ to achieve these objectives.

The Global Water Supply and Sanitation Assessment estimated that 1.1 billion poor people still lack reasonable access to improved drinking water supplies and 2.4 billion lack reasonable access to improved sanitation. More than eighty percent of these “unserved people” live in rural areas.

In the last few years, a number of reports have come out dealing with the nature of water crisis. One such report, ‘Water for People, Water for Life: The United Nations World Water Development Report’ was produced by the collaborative efforts of 23 UN agencies, governments and others concerned with water issues in 2003, and offers a global overview of the state of the world’s water resources. The report outlines eleven challenges that form the basis of future actions on water. It is interesting that seven out of the eleven challenges that the report focuses on emerged from the World Water Council at the 2nd World Water Forum in 2000 and did not come out of a United Nations led process, as is the case normally.

Far more interesting is a report “Three Global Scenarios”, produced as a part of the World Water Vision process undertaken by the World Commission on Water. The report projects three future scenarios and the methods to deal with them which provide an insight into the thinking of the leading players in the water sector and the process by which they intend to address these critical issues. The future scenario painted is rosy- provided the `Technology, Economics and Private Sector ` option prescribed `road map’ is adhered to - the scenario by 2010 will be that public and pivate sector utilities will be applying full cost recovery in the water sector, water subsidies are added to the list of unecceptable subsidies in the WTO. And by 2025 the report projects that, “There will be no water scarcity on a wide spread basis because of the combined effect of water pricing, demand management, water saving technologies and bio-tech solutions to food production , having sharply reduced water intensity in most human activities.”.

But the problem with most of the documents on the water crisis and the international discourse on water - as Lyla Mehta argues - is not that water is increasingly seen as a `scarce resource’, which needs to be managed judiciously, but that `scarcity’ as it is constructed in global declarations and debates is often presented in absolute or monolithic terms, obscuring the complex nature of scarcity and its linkages with ecological, socio-political, temporal and anthropogenic dimensions. Thus in the international discourse on water resources management, water scarcity is taken to be given and starting point for policy agendas.

As Ramaawamy Iyer argues that the common bonding thread running through the global discourse on water is to, “ proceed from projections of demand to supply side solutions in the form of water resource development projects, estimate the massive investment funds needed; take note of the severe limitations of availability of resources with governments; point to private sector investments as the answer: and stress for the need for policy changes to facilitate this.” One is forced to conclude that analysts of the global water crisis are not concerned as much with analysing the problem but with providing a picture that lends itself to pre-determined solutions.

As the criticisms of the report of the World Water Commission pointed out by several NGOs and Civil Society organizations said, that the process by which the scenarios and the vision were developed, “has been controlled from the start by a small group of aid agency and water multinational officers, mainly from the Global Water Partnership, the World Water Council, the World Bank and the Suez-Lyonesse des Eaux. The key conclusion of the report that these is a global water crisis which can be solved only with a massive increase in private funding for water projects in developing countries backed up with guarantees from the World Bank and other Aid Agencies was predetermined.”

Argentina: The campaign against “Aguas Provinciales de Santa Fe” (APSF), a subsidiary of the French water multinational Suez, has been waged by a coalition called “Asamblea Provincial por el Derecho al Agua,” (Provincial Assembly for the Right to Water) consisting of consumers’ associations, environmentalists and citizen groups. APSF has a 30 year concession for the provision of water supply and sanitation services to 15 cities of the Santa Fe province in northern Argentina. The agreement was signed in November 1995 without any democratic participation of water consumers and has been characterized by continuous re-negotiation, price increases, downward revision of projected investments and operational targets, an opaque regulatory process and the neutralization of local shareholding.

In order to return water service to public control, the citizen coalition called a referendum in September to obtain the rescission of the concession to APSF. A provincial plebiscite was held on the right to water with direct citizen participation through 1,000 polling stations and 7,000 volunteers in 15 cities. The plebiscite was not covered by the major media. After the referendum, the coalition, along with many other groups in Argentina and around the world, sent letters to the Santa Fe governor asking him to rescind the contract with the company.

Uruguay: The National Commission in Defense of Water and Life has been fighting to prevent the privatization of water in Montevideo and other cities. During the Social Forum of Uruguay, in November 2002, the National Commission in Defence of Water and Life gathered widespread support of a proposal for Reform of the Constitution of the Republic that would ensure that water is protected as a common resource and a public good. The constitutional reform would emphasize the importance of viewing water as a natural resource essential to life, having all citizens decide collectively on the future of water management, and the need to discourage transnational corporations from seeking easy profits in Uruguay.

The constitutional reform would also protect against the privatization of water in Uruguay. It is widely believed by the people that privatization of their water infrastructure will lead to a loss of liberties in Uruguayan society and the loss of preservation of life and national sovereignty. The National Commission in Defense of Water and Life has undertaken a broad educational campaign to gather support for the constitutional reform to protect the nation’s water.
Mar Del Pata to Kyoto: Constructing the ‘Consensus’
At the last gathering of the World Water Forum in 2003, the privatisation agenda that was being promoted at the earlier forums was presented as the only possible solution to the water problems of the world. The Kyoto forum was founded on the vision that, `proposes a model for water management that relinquishes all control over water resources to the private sector through commercialisation, privatisation and large scale development’. On what basis was this model developed? How was this so-called ‘global consensus’ arrived at?

In the last quarter of the century, since the first UN World Conference on Water and Sanitation held at Mar Del Pata in 1977 several international forums and policy dialogues were organised to deal with the issue of water. While the Mar Del Pata conference was primarily concerned with task of providing clean drinking water and sanitation and outlined a plan of action for implementing the same, the rest of the international conferences from Dublin Conference in 1992 (held in preparation of UNCED at Rio) to the Kyoto Forum were steps in developing the privatisation agenda. The agencies that powered this agenda are not United Nations and Inter-governmental bodies, but three interrelated organizations - The World Water Council, the World Water Forum and the Global Water Partnership - with strong representation of multinational water companies and aid agencies with a pronounced privatisation bias.

The Dublin Conference of 1992 (in preparation for the UNCED, 1992) was a significant landmark in evolving the privatisation agenda. A set of principles emerged out of the Conference - the Dublin Principles - illustrate the shift and new perspective that most international organisations and multilateral funding agencies like the World Bank realigned to. One of the principle lays out in clear terms the new `dicta' for the Water Sector, “ Past failures to recognise the economic value of water has led the wasteful and environmentally damaging uses of the resource”. And the way out was to mange water as an economic good.

>> Vivendi: In Parana, Brazil, the company is getting kicked out for prioritizing profits and dividends over water quality and infrastructure development. Is also mired in lawsuits in the US and France for shareholder conduct under CEO Messier’s leadership.
>> Suez: North American subsidiary United Water got kicked out of Atlanta, USA, in January 2003 for their empty promises about savings, neglecting maintenance work (but charging for it anyway). Boil water advisories were commonplace.
>> Suez: Trying to squeeze the poorest of their last cent for a profit, Suez is installing pre-paid (automatic cut-off) meters in the poor townships of Johannesburg and hiking water rates.
>> RWE/Thames Water: Tried to hike rates by 35% two years in a row for dirty water in Jakarta, Indonesia. The company has been met with consumer protests, strikes, and lawsuits over unfair contract awarding practices connected to the Suharto regime

What is significant to note is that the United Nations which has historically played a leading role in facilitating such policy dialogues has been gradually marginalised, and given way to bodies like the World Water Council and the World Water Forum. These organisations have been criticised for being unrepresentative and undemocratic with direct links to multinational companies involved in water business. For instance, The UN World Water Development Report was presented not at a UN gathering but at the World Water Forum in Kyoto. It was also at the same meeting that a report of the “Panel on Financing Water Infrastructure” was presented and accepted. The Panel headed by the former chief of the International Monetary Fund, Michael Cemdessus (notorious for imposing the disastrous Structural Adjustment Programmes on the world) in its report (couched in altruistic lingo) presented a series of proposals, the real objective of which was to further the agenda of the global water corporations to reshape institutions structures to ensure that investing in `water markets’ is a profit making venture’.

At Kyoto, the final act in this long drawn out process of constructing this consensus was played out. The UN Millenium Development Goals developed by the United Nations Millenium Summit in 2000, which set specific targets for halving of the proportion of people without adequate access to drinking water and sanitation was adopted by the Forum along with the Cemedessus report. As one commentator observed, the Kyoto forum succeeded in the incorporation of the UN Development goals on water and sanitation for all into a framework of rules and regulations that will involve the private corporations to operate profitably in the water business.

Intricacies of the Water Business
After a decade of sweeping privatisation, 460 million people around the world are now dependent on private water corporations for their supply (up from just 51 million people in 1990). Water industry analysts expect the privatisation frenzy to accelerate and predict the number to reach 1.16 billion people in 2015. If current privatisation trends continue, the global private water market of the next decade will be firmly controlled by only a handful of giant corporations, all with headquarters in Europe.

European companies dominate the global water market. The world’s top two private sector water companies, Vivendi and Suez (both French), control 70% of all private water services between them. The third largest is Thames Water, now part of German utilities conglomerate RWE. Based on a solid (and protected) position in their French home market (where they control 85% of private water markets), they have successfully pursued international expansion throughout the 1990s’. The only company which may threaten the dominance of Suez and Vivendi is the German ‘environmental services’ and utilities giant RWE, which has expanded its global water portfolio through acquisitions of companies such as the UK’s Thames Water and American Water Works.

An investigation by International Council of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) showed that six globally active water companies over a period of 12 years have increased their business from about a dozen counties to about 58 at present. The investigation also reveals that these companies work very closely with the World Bank, lobbying governments and international trade and standards organisation for changes in legislation and trade agreements to force privatisation of public works. The rapid global expansion of the European water giants would be impossible without the far-reaching support they enjoy from European governments, the European Commission and other international institutions.

The World Bank, in which European governments play a decisive role, has dramatically accelerated water privatisation in developing countries by making water supply and structural adjustment loans conditional on privatisation. Through its affiliate, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank has been directly involved in promoting and shaping privatisation processes in Buenos Aires, Manila and many other cities around the world.

According to a report released by the Public Citizen recently. “ Despite the World Bank's insistence that it is no longer tying privatisation clauses to loans, a review of its lending patterns in the water and sanitation sector shows that approximately 90 percent of the loans included requirements promoting water privatisation. These range from requiring governments to consider contracts with private water companies to requiring full-scale privatisation of water systems. In 2000, 91 percent of loans included water privatisation clauses; in 2004,100 percent of loans included such clauses.”

European governments, particularly the French and British, are deeply committed to helping ‘their’ water corporations win new markets. The French government, for instance, played a very active role in helping Suez win the bid when the water supply in Buenos Aires was privatised in the mid-1990s’. Also, the European Union’s development aid spending on water in developing countries effectively subsidises the EU-based water corporations. Rather than supporting water infrastructure improvements, the aid budgets primarily go to ‘administrative restructuring’ and other costs related to introducing privatisation programmes.


This pro-privatisation bias is also at the heart of the EU’s Water Initiative, presented at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). Boosting private sector involvement through subsidised Public-Private Partnerships is presented as a ‘win-win’ approach, however the only certain winners are likely to be Suez, Vivendi, RWE and other large EU-based water TNCs cashing-in on new water markets. The European Union is also using the negotiations on service sector liberalisation within the World Trade Organisation (GATS) to further the market expansion interests of large EU-based water corporations.

What the World Water Forums and its related bodies ignore is that the privatisation agenda has failed to deliver and in many places they were forced to withdraw and hand over the management to either public sector or to innovative and participatory cooperatives run by ordinary people.

Resistance & The Human Right to Water
Resistance and popular opposition to the ‘corporate led privatisation project’ emerging from all over the world is now backed by several international and regional campaigns and coalitions which have come together to counter the malicious agenda of the World Water Forum, the World Bank, IMF ,the Asia Development Bank as well as the major water corporations, such as Vivendi, Suez, Bechtel. The campaigns have succeeded in showing that these bodies speak for the water giants and not for the people, the millions and billions of the world's population who do not want the world's dwindling supplies of fresh water to be privatised and commodified and put on the open market for sale. There are several ongoing attempts now to organise and consolidate the struggles around the globe for the protection of water rights and liberation of water from corporate control.

The most well known is the experience in Cochabamba in Bolivia, where citizens mobilised against the disastrous water management of the US company Bechtel that raised the prices so dramatically that it went out of reach of majority of the citizens. Such examples can be found across the world and not only in the south. For instance, the Report, “Metered to Death: Experiment in Riots and Cholera” provides a chilling account of the operations of water companies in the Dolphin Coast of South Africa, where faced with rising costs of privatised water people were forced to use water from streams and water resulting in an epidemic of Cholera. The pattern repeats itself in Buenos Aires, in Manila and elsewhere.

Coca-Cola is already using ground water resources in a big way leading to protests and struggles in Kerala, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. At present the company is banned from drawing any further water. On the other hand there are attempts to privatise rivers like Shoenath – which has been aborted - and Periyar against which people are protesting. Several metropolitan centers are on the verge of handing over the management of water services to private companies which, as experience shows will result in disaster. The Indian government has blindly incorporated the privatisation agenda into its National Water Policy. How much of this will change under the new government is open to debate. A critique of the national policy by Sanjeev Gogkte shows that the policy will not in any way help in achieving the development goals and will only help in furthering the interests of the private sector.

In November 2002, the UN in a General Comment on the Right to Water noted that, “The human right to water is indispensable for leading a life of dignity. It is a prerequisite for the realization of other human rights.” A General Comment is used by the UN from time to time to amplify the rights set out in its Covenants. In issuing the comment the UN was drawing attention to the right to water, which is contained in the UN Covenant on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights. Miloon Kothari takes us through the GC and its implications for the right to water.

It is interesting that the Kyoto edition of the World Water Forum, which happened soon after, avoided mentioning the UN comment and avoided the term human right, choosing instead to use the term `basic human need’. The difference between the two is critical, while a human need can be left to the market forces to fullfill, a human right on the other hand means that it is responsibility of the state to fullfill that right.

The right to water is emerging as an important rallying point for many struggles and campaigns seeking water justice. It is important because of the ongoing efforts in the WTO and in the discussions on General Agreement of Trade in Services to bring in water under services. The goal of bringing services into the WTO is to pursue "progressive liberalisation." This means moving toward privatisation of all services, including public services. It also means deregulation of services at the local, state and national levels and subjecting them to the WTO’s global rules for the benefit of transnational corporations (TNCs). Now the European negotiators want to include drinking water in the GATS agreement. The Europeans have large TNC’s like Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux which is involved in privatising municipal water services around the world, so it is in their interest to have water be part of the GATS. For these companies and their smaller competitors (most also European), GATS promises access to new markets and enhanced rights.

There is a feeling among analysts that the right to water as enshrined in the UN human rights instruments will conflict with the trade related provisions on rights as contained in GATS. This will be an area of contest between trade liberalisers and those defending fundamental human rights to water. But establishing water as a human right will be one way of strengthening the struggles in defense of water justice and providing universal access for all to this vital source of life.


Raajen Singh

Raajen Singh is an activist and researcher based in Bombay. He is associated with the Centre for Education and Documentation and the Adivasi Rights Resource Centre.

Interlinking of Rivers :'Disease of Gigantism'

It is being assumed that all the planning process necessary for the project including environmental clearance will be short-circuited, as the concerned authorities will be told that this is a Court directed project and is topmost on the national agenda. The project is being projected as the lifeline of India, in the same manner as the Sardar Sarovar project was projected as the lifeline of Gujarat. The governments of the day seem to have an uncanny ability to sell illusions and outright lies by using the media, for example, the manner in which the US government sold the war on terror to its citizens, has now emerged as one of the most serious threats to democracy in our times

Recent studies point out that the costs of large dams have been largely under-estimated and the benefits exaggerated. The absurdity of bringing water from long distances instead of harvesting rain water which is one-fifth its cost makes Prashant Bhushan wonder why the government is bent upon going ahead with the ruinous river linking project?
The clandestine and insidious manner in which a gargantuan project of interlinking of rivers has suddenly become the most important project on the national agenda is a great tribute to the ability of this government to use the President, the judiciary and the media to legitimise a project which was unthinkable a year earlier and will unquestionably be ruinous for the nation.

The precursors to the project for interlinking the rivers were the Ganga Cauvery link proposal mooted by K.L. Rao and the Garland Canal idea put forward by Captain Dinshaw Dastur in the sixties. They were both examined and found impractical, the former on the grounds of the very large financial and energy costs involved, and the latter because it was technically unsound. Moreover, since then, with an increased understanding of environmental and ecological connections, it has been realized that large dams and irrigation projects cause enormous disturbances to the environment and ecology. These include submergence of forests and agricultural lands, loss of biodiversity, changes in river morphology and water quality, disruption of habitats of wildlife, water logging and salinity, reduction in downstream flows, reduction of freshwater inflows into the sea and the consequent impacts on aquatic life.
The various movements and agitations on behalf of the oustees of such projects have also focused attention on the enormous injustice that has been done to them. They have been rendered homeless, landless and rootless by their involuntary displacement. Simultaneously, there has also been a realisation that rainwater harvesting or micro watershed development, are quicker and more economical ways of harnessing water.

Recently, the World Bank along with several other international agencies formed World Commission on Dams to do a retrospective study of the overall impact of large dams and irrigation projects globally. This commission had members from the dam construction industry as well as from environmental and social activist organisations, which had been opposing large dams. The commission gave a unanimous report, mainly pointing out that the costs of large dams had been largely underestimated and the benefits exaggerated. The environmental and social impacts of such projects had largely been left out in the cost benefit calculations. The India country study which had been conducted by some of the most eminent experts in the country concluded that, "It is evident that past (large dam) projects, in general, have not been comprehensively assessed in terms of their environmental, social and economic viability and optimality… Also, the distribution of most of the costs and benefits of large dams seems to accentuate socio-economic inequities." Despite all this, there seems to be a conspiracy at the top echelons of the government to somehow bring this massive river linking project on the national agenda. Last year, the President's Independence Day, had a paragraph added to it to the effect that interlinking the rivers could perhaps solve the problems of floods and drought. This paragraph was enough for a lawyer appointed by the Supreme Court as amicus curiae (to assist the court) in the Yamuna pollution case to file a short application praying that the court should direct the government to take up this project. As if on cue, the bench headed by the then Chief Justice B.N.Kripal issued notices to all the states and the Centre. On the next day of hearing, which was the day before the retirement of the then Chief Justice, an order was passed which is now effectively being treated by the Government as a direction by the court to undertake this project and complete it within the shortest possible time.

The order noted that only the Union of India and the State of Tamil Nadu had filed responses to the notice issued by the Court. It stated that the Union of India had pointed out that the project would cost Rs. 5,60,000 crores, would take 43 years and would need the consent of the states. The state of Tamil Nadu had filed an innocuous affidavit, virtually saying nothing. The Court noted that no other state had filed any affidavit and therefore it could be assumed that none had any objection to its implementation! After orally noting that funds cannot be a constraint for the Government for a project in national interest, the Court observed in its order that the project should be completed within 10 years! It also went on to advise the government that in case consent was not forthcoming from the states, the government should consider passing a legislation to obviate consent of the states for this project.

All this for a project, which requires funds equal to the total irrigation budget of the country for the next 43 years, if one goes by the Ninth Plan expenditure. This is planned without hearing any interested party, not even the states, without discussions or debates whatsoever, without completing even feasibility studies, leave aside the question of social, environmental, economic or optimality assessments! Such is the nonchalance with which this country is being pushed to a course which would have unparalleled and unprecedented, financial, social and environmental consequences.

Jawaharlal Nehru is credited with having called large dams'temples of modern India'. But no textbook recalls what he said soon thereafter. He said, 'For some time past, however, I have been beginning to think that we are suffering from what we may call disease of gigantism'

This order from the Court was all that the government required to immediately go on a public relations offensive to bring this project on the national agenda, characterising it as a Court approved project. A task force was formed, consisting mainly of civil engineers who had been involved in dam construction or officials who had been connected with the water resources ministry, to draw up detailed plans for the implementation of this project. Such is the speed with which the task force has proceeded, that it has submitted a report to the Court recently, saying that it will begin work on one or two links at least this year itself. The work starts sans feasibility study or a detailed project report. The effort seems to be to somehow make this fait accompli before the issue becomes a topic for a serious debate on the pros and cons of taking on such a massive undertaking, which is more than 10 times the size of any project ever undertaken in this country.

It is being assumed that all the planning process necessary for the project including environmental clearance will be short-circuited, as the concerned authorities will be told that this is a Court directed project and is topmost on the national agenda. The project is being projected as the lifeline of India, in the same manner as the Sardar Sarovar project was projected as the lifeline of Gujarat. The governments of the day seem to have an uncanny ability to sell illusions and outright lies by using the media, for example, the manner in which the US government sold the war on terror to its citizens, has now emerged as one of the most serious threats to democracy in our times.

It does not take much technical knowledge to understand why the interlinking of rivers is such an absurd idea. Before bringing water from long distances, one should learn to store what is immediately available - rain water. It has been found that the cost of rainwater harvesting is on an average one-fifth the cost of harnessing the same water by bringing it across large distances after storing it in large dams. Therefore it makes far more sense to save and utilise the rainwater falling in the area. Moreover, besides the enormous social and environmental upheaval that such a project would involve, it would lead to massive conflict between states. If the Cauvery dispute, which is only between three states on the sharing of water of one river, is any indication, imagine what will happen when water from several rivers is taken to other rivers across several states. It will also be an administrative nightmare.

It is ironical that the Centre wants to push a project, which requires not only the country's total irrigation budget for more than 43 years, but also plans to do without any public debate or planning. Moreover, this is being done at a time when India is unable to put together Rs. 1,00,000 crores to complete long overdue irrigation projects. Neither has the government been able to maintain and optimally use existing irrigation infrastructure or harvest rainwater.
It is easy to comprehend the motivations of those who rule. If Rs. 5,60,000 crores is to be spent through a centralized pipeline, as will be the case in this project, the potential for huge kickbacks are enormous - 10 percent of which is Rs. 56,000 crores. Even if one were to spread it over 20 years, it means Rs. 2,800 crores a year! Not small pickings even from today's standards. Why else is there such an unseemly hurry to undertake such a massive project? Why else short-circuited the normal planning process? Why else would the task force say that it will begin work on one or two links this year without knowing which link and without doing even a feasibility study of the links that it wants to take up?

On an average, if Rs.10 lakhs was given to each of the less than 1 million villages in the country for rainwater harvesting on the lines pioneered by the Tarun Bharat Sangh in Rajasthan, much of the agricultural land in the country could be irrigated. This would mean a total outlay of less than Rs. 1,00,000 crores for the country (less than 20 percent of the cost of this project). Such a project could be implemented in two years if the funds and technical knowledge were made available to each village. Those who head the government are aware that they can hardly take 10 percent from these funds without being caught. Large kickbacks are possible without being caught only when the funds go through a central pipeline and through a few large contractors. That is why large centralised projects are given preference. If the Rs. 14,000 crores spent on the Sardar Sarovar Project in Gujarat, had been spent on rainwater harvesting instead, every single village in Gujarat would have been drought proofed long ago. Even after 24 years, the project is nowhere near completion. It is likely to take another 25 years and will cost at least Rs. 30,000 crores more. During this period, there has been and will be no funds left for other minor or micro irrigation projects or for maintenance and repair of existing infrastructure in the State.

Jawaharlal Nehru is credited with having called large dams, "temples of modern India". But no textbook recalls what he said soon thereafter. He said, "For some time past, however, I have been beginning to think that we are suffering from what we may call, "disease of gigantism". We want to show that we can build big dams and do big things. This is a dangerous outlook developing in India…. the idea of having big undertakings and doing big tasks for the sake of showing that we can do big things is not a good outlook at all…We have to realise that we can also meet our problems much more rapidly and efficiently by taking up a large number of small schemes, especially when the time involved in a small scheme is much less and the results obtained are rapid. Further, in those small schemes you can get a good deal of what is called public co-operation, and therefore, there is that social value in associating people with such small schemes."
We have traveled long and far since Nehru. The manner in which the government is pushing the project leaves little doubt that the lure of gigantism is more in the prospect of large and easy kickbacks. Unfortunately, the future of the country and its people has been mortgaged to these base considerations.


Prashant Bhushan
Prashant Bhushan is a lawyer practicing in the Supreme Court of India

Appeal for Varuna

Dear all,

Greetings from HAMARI VARUNA ABHIYAN (Save the Varuna moovement) , Varanasi(India). Varuna is the famous river of Varanasi.World’s oldest and holy city Varanasi was named on this holy river. In hindu mythology and history we have got the reference of river Varuna. Varuna starts from melhum at phulpur in Allahabad District. It flows from Bhadohi ,Mirzapur ,Jounpur, enters in varanasi, and ends in river ganga at sarai mohana. Its total length is about106 kms.

Varanasi is also an ancient name, found in both the Buddhist Jataka tales and in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. From the pali version of this name –baranasi- comes the corrupted name Banaras, by which the city is most widely known today. Varanasi sits between the Varana river ,which flows into the ganges on the north and the Asi river, which joins the Ganges on the south . Varanasi stretches along the river between the two. According to the Padma Puran ‘The Varana and the Asi are two rivers, set there by Gods. Between them is a holy land and there is none more excellent on earth.”

Since 1980, Varuna was recognized as lifeline of Varanasi. It’s water was very medicated and its river bank were famous for medicated plants like Brahmi, punarnava, sarpgandha,juri, sankhpuspi, satavar and ghritkumari. It maintained the water level of varanasi, which is now a days at 3rd strata. The farmers of this area used its water for drinking, irrigation and cattle. But now, the total scenario has changed, Varuna has became the most polluted river of India, there is no any living things even parasites also in it. Varuna is ailing and becoming a garbage tank. the impact of all these things are shown. Due to these, the ground water level is going at downiest level. Pollution is being high and a holy lifeline river is dying.

Save the Varuna movement (Hamari Varuna Abhiyan) is a joint effort of some Civil Societies, who are involve in social activities in Varanasi and nearby aras . prayash Foundation Trust, Centre for Social Development society & Hamari Varuna Samiti are playing the major roles in this movement. Except then, many other VOs, NGOs and institutions like Water Community, Social Vision, Computer institute for Management System(CIMS), Dr. Shambhunath singh Research Foundation(SRF) , Premchand Margdarsan Kendra, Manav Seva Samiti , Prerna Kala Manch, Tarumitra are supporting us. We have decided to work on Varuna revival since last 3 years, when we saw that Varuna river is ailing from its source and it was being a sever . due to our efforts Commissnor Varanasi ordered to chek it. By our meetings and awareness camps Polithine is avoid by the native people. Schools & Colleges are making the plantation programe for it . we are crating a social pressure on Govt. of U.P. to make a green belt & oxygen Bank on both sides of this river especially in Varanasi city from Chokaghat to civil court. By this way there will be a beautiful and visible pollution free zone in this cultural city. We are planning to dig the riverbed and use this place for boating and water transport also. For this purpose we have demanded from Govt. of U.P. to make a pukka ghat at chokaghat.

We the people of save varuna movement are trying to revive the varuna with our best efforts. We have taken it as challenge, but our resources are very limited. Now days ,we are creating a public awareness through camps. Our sub convener Surya Bhan is on padyatra along with river Varuna and creating a good rapport about Varuna’ cleanness and revival. Our convener Dr. Vyomesh Chitravansh is trying to attract the people and activists on this problem. As a Executive member of National Committee on ailing rivers, he presented the problem of Varuna in The South Asian Convention of Ailing & Dead Rivers at New Delhi on July 8th, 2007. He is fighting for Varuna at state, national & international level. He is a good journalist and advocate from Varanasi. By his effort Varuna is kept in top 5 of ailing rivers of India.In coming period we are making plan to dig Varuna riverbed and to plantation on its both side with the help of native people. We are going to file a PIL in Allahabad High Court for Varuna in the light of Court’s orders.

For all these effort, we are expecting your help, support and contribution. Our humble appeal to all of you that please Give your full support through the moral, financial and other contributions to Save the Varuna and save the lifeline of Varanasi. Keep in touch.
Please forward this massage to your contacts, it will your support for our efforts

You may contact us on following numbers:-

-Dr. Vyomesh Chitravansh, convener,
Hamari Varuna Abhiyan,
c/o Prayash Foundation Trust,
SH3/18.B-4N, Sharda Vihar,
Meerapur (Basahi), Varanasi-221003 (India)
Email:vyomc@sify.com;forum_flash@sify.com
Cell. 91-94509608510; 91-9794254579

Surya Bhan, Sub Convener, HVA
c/oCentre for Social Development society
Sh8/40P-1, Veer Nagar Calony, Shivpur koat,
Shivpur, Varanasi.(India)
Email:csds@sify.com
Cell. 91-9452709385

Ajai Srivastava
c/o Hamari Varuna Samiti
S24/7 Taktakpur, Varanasi-221002,(India)