A Short Note on Private Water Supply Concession for Khandwa town

This preliminary note is based on the case study of the private water supply concession in a medium town in Madhya Pradesh, Khandwa, implemented under the central government supported Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme in Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT). Under this private concession the water supply project for the town has been handed over to a private corporation, Vishwa Infrastructures and Services Pvt. Ltd., which has provided 10% share of the estimated project cost, the rest has been borne by the central and the state governments. In lieu of the investment of the 10% of the estimated project cost, the private corporation has been given the right to treat, distribute, rehabilitate water distribution lines and collect water bills from the residents. The draft of the first part of the study evaluating the project on technical, financial and governance aspects is ready for dissemination.

The study critically analyses the project on various aspects including the technical parameters, financial arrangement, operational issues, the often overlooked aspect of governance issues and the implications of privatisation on water supply and residents of this medium town.

Manthan has also initiated a process in the town for the discussions on the project, involving groups and people in the form of meetings and spreading awareness to critically question the rationale behind such a project which is executed without any public discussion and debate.

For the note (Hindi) please click on the following PDF link...

Issues in Khandwa WS Scheme