CPI(M) Demands Scrap of Proposed Water Regulatory Commission in Andhra Pradesh

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) Andhra Pradesh committee is demanding the immediate withdrawal of the State government's plan to set up a Water Regulatory Commission. The party warns that the commission will privatize drinking and irrigation water, put extra money pressure on citizens, and harm farming.

Concerns and Allegations

CPI(M) State secretary V. Srinivasa Rao stated in a press release that the government plans to bring in the commission right after local body elections, going against what the public wants. He pointed out that the Electricity Regulatory Commission failed to protect regular users, noting that it instead helped push up power bills, approved questionable power purchase deals, and added extra true-up charges. Mr. Rao alleged that the new water regulator will turn water into a business item, giving private and multinational companies control over local rivers and reservoirs. He added that the World Bank and the Union government have pushed Andhra Pradesh for years to change its water sector, though past governments backed away due to strong pushback from farmers.

Government Actions and Public Appeal

Mr. Rao also hit out at the State government over G.O. 160, an order issued during local body polls that proposes putting meters on rural drinking water schemes and charging users based on how much they use. He noted that the order was later taken off the government website after facing heavy criticism. The CPI(M) leader called on the public to fight the proposed commission, urging the government to focus instead on helping people deal with drought worries, recent cyclones, and high prices for daily essentials.

Context

Water regulatory bodies are administrative agencies set up by governments to oversee water management, pricing, and distribution across urban and rural sectors. Debates over such regulators often center on whether commercializing water improves service efficiency or instead makes a basic public resource too expensive for low-income households and farmers.