Trade unions at KWA to intensify stir

Kochi: Mounting pressure on state govt to review its decision, trade unions of Kerala Water Authority (KWA), including Left unions, will intensify their protest against the proposed water supply network project in the city alleging that the project is the first step towards privatizing the water supply sector in state.
The coordination committee of different employees’ and officers’ unions affiliated to CITU, INTUC and AITUC will hold a public convention at town hall on Tuesday.Senior CPM, CPI and Congress leaders will attend the convention. CPM veteran and CITU state general secretary Elamaram Kareem will inaugurate the convention.
The trade unions had strongly opposed the move to rope in a private player for water operation and the maintenance of entire water supply system of Kochi under Asian Development Bank (ADB)-aided Kerala Urban Water Services Improvement Project.
As per the project, water supply lines along 750km will be replaced in the city and new water meters installed for 1.46 lakh consumers. The operation and maintenance of the entire water supply system of the city will be entrusted to a private player, which won the bid for the project.
Trade unions are planning to intensify the protest under the banner of coordination of trade unions to pressurize state govt, which is expected to take a final decision on this soon.
“State govt is planning to implement the project, without proper discussions with people’s representatives of trade unions. Even the city corporation authorities are not aware of the project details. We cannot agree with such a project promoting private players, as it will have far-reaching consequences,” said Unnikrishnan P V, state committee member of Kerala Water Authority Employees Union (KWAEU-CITU).