Dear Friends,

Meeting to finalise Jatha against water privatisation in Bangalore

Date: 6th July 2006

Place:Aashirwad, St. Marks Road.

Time:* 3.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.

The Campaign against Water Privatisation will undertake a Jatha across the 8 ULBs around Bangalore to inform people of the Government's plans to privatise water supply in these areas under the Greater Bangalore Water Supply and Sanitation Project (GBWASP). This Jatha will begin on 10th July 2006 from Mahadevpura CMC from where it will move on to K.R. Puram, Yelahanka, Byataraynapura, Dasarahalli, Kengeri, Rajarajeshwarinagar, Bomanahalli and finally culminate in a dharna outside the Chief Minister's house on 16th July at 2.30 p.m.

You are aware of this project, GBWASP, and the ongoing Campaign for the past several months now. There have been several gains post the agitation beginning including the government's decision not to collect beneficiary contributions from the poor and to frame a comprehensive policy for the urban poor with regard to access to water. Incidentally, Janaagraha has also withdrawn from the project during this time. Importantly, during this time, the BWSSB has taken a position against water privatisation. In a recent report to the government, it has recommended that the cancellation of the plan to privatise water supply and that it could implement GBWASP at two thirds of the projected cost.

Despite the agitation and BWSSB's report, the government is still going ahead with its plans of privatisation. It is to bring all these facts to the notice of the concerned citizens that we feel that this Jatha is required. We also hope to reach to people the devastating impact that privatisation has had in other countries as well.

We are hoping that you, having been supportive and participative in the Campaign's activities to date, will be part of this Jatha as well. To this end we have organized a meeting tomorrow (6th July 2006) at Aashirwad at 3.00 p.m. to finalise the Jatha, share responsibilities and ensure the participation of as many as possible in it.

Please attend.

In solidarity,

L.I.A.Selva. PUCL-K
Coordinator
CAMPAIGN AGAINST WATER PRIVATISATION
Mobil:+91 94487 61897