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Privatisation of water opposed

Staff Reporter

Goel leads dharna at DJB office

NEW DELHI: Accompanied by a large number of Delhiites and representatives of various citizens' groups, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijay Goel on Thursday staged a dharna at Delhi Jal Board's headquarters, Varunalaya, to oppose proposed privatisation of water distribution in the Capital.

Addressing the protestors, Mr. Goel said the Capital's residents were still trying to cope with steep increases in power charges and fast running meters and now they would be asked to pay inflated water bills without getting a proper supply. The worst affected would be those belonging to the poorer sections of society.

Accusing Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit of cheating innocent citizens, the former Union Minister said the water privatisation project was nothing but a sell-off of the water utility to multinational firms, which would lead to water riots in the city.

Lambasting the Delhi Government for having failed miserably in ensuring proper water and power supply in the Capital, Mr. Goel said water was not like any other commodity and giving its control into private hands would lead to massive law and order problem in the city.

Announcing that he would launch a city-wide campaign to oppose privatisation of water distribution in Delhi, the senior BJP leader said the need was to strictly deal with senior DJB officials who were responsible for the present mess.

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