NEW DELHI: A leading NGO, Parivartan, has written an open letter to the World Bank president, Paul Wolfowitz, to initiate a "probe'' into alleged inappropriate interventions by the Bank officials on the issue of privatisation of Delhi Jal Board and sought penal action against such officials. It has also pleaded that the Bank share with the people of India the action taken against such officials to prove that it is transparent in its transactions and actions.

In his letter to Mr. Wolfowitz, who is now on a visit to India, Arvind Kejriwal of Parivartan protested against continuing intervention in the functioning of the water utility in Delhi by the Indian branch of the World Bank. The DJB had applied to the Bank for a loan of about $150 million to carry out water sector reforms. It has already received a loan of about $2.5 million towards Project Preparation Facility (PPF).

Referring to favouritism and interventions of the World Bank, Mr. Kejriwal pointed out that Pricewater House Cooper (PWC) had lost in the normal bidding process not once but thrice. However, the Bank officials intervened every time. Finally PWC got the contract. The World Bank overruled strong protests from DJB and went ahead against the wishes of elected representatives. "The resolutions passed by the full body of DJB, of which the Chief Minister of Delhi is the Chairperson, were also ignored by the Bank."

"Some of the interventions appear to be in violation of the terms and conditions applicable to this loan. It raises suspicion whether the Bank is trying to favour certain companies through such interventions."

Further, Mr. Kejriwal has stated that Michael Carter, Country Director of the Bank, sought to justify the interventions saying that the water utility is in a mess and needs "hand-holding'' by the Bank. "We wish to state that India exports managerial and technical expertise to the rest of the World. It has some of the best technical and management institutes. We are sure India does not need the Bank's hand-holding to improve its water systems,'' the letter adds.

Also it states that wherever similar reforms were carried out in other developing countries, water tariffs skyrocketed, water quality deteriorated, water was diverted from residential areas to amusement parks and hotels and supply to the poor was cut off as they could not afford water.

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