------------------------------------------------------ Welcome to the FRIDAY BALCAO Read the Balcao Synopsis on the website http://www.goadesc.org/balcao/ ------------------------------------------------------
Dear Cybergaokars on GoaNet, Friday Balcao the fortnightly discussion event to be held on 14th October will focus on the involvement of the World Bank & JICA Japan in the augmentation of Water Supply & Sanitation of Goa. The rapid urbanization and influx of the tourist population in Goa has been cited as the main reason for improving service delivery in the Water Supply and Sanitation sector in Goa. For this purpose the Goa Govt.has requisitioned the services of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to prepare a strategic water supply and sewerage master plan. This was disclosed at a Stakeholder meeting held on 23rd August in Panjim. Interestingly on 8th April a workshop on Water and Sanitation Reforms was held in Panjim wherein officials from the World Bank and the Delhi Jal Board made submissions on water sector reforms in the context of Goa. A Status Report on Water Supply and Sanitation in Goa was also presented by Feedback Ventures. It was observed at both these presentations that the Public Works Department (PWD) and its Public Health Engineering (PHE) wing had not organised a proper consultation for its consumers as well as other stakeholders. Advance information about the topics being discussed and the implications of certain proposals such as the availability and costs of 24X7 water supply, the role of private companies and the financial implications for ordinary consumers were not clear. The mounting losses due to wasteful expenditure, non recovery of dues and misappropriation within the Department are some of the likely reasons which will eventually make the Govt. opt to privatize Water Supply and Sewerage services in Goa. The recent exposure of the Delhi Jal Board being pressurized by the World Bank to favour a particular company in a consultancy contract and the cost of privatisation of water supply in Delhi needs special attention from consumers in Goa Why have proper stakeholder meetings not been conducted to elicit the views of the consumers in Goa ? Why have elected representatives in Village Panchayats and Municipal Councils not been consulted ? Why were the consumers who have filed complaints against the PWD not been invited to a public hearing ? Why is the water supply and sanitation in Goa sort to be improved only because of the tourists ? Has the community been consulted on the location of the proposed Sewerage Treatment Plants ? Why are consumers made to sign affidavits stating that they will not complain, always pay their bills even if they do not get PWD water supply ? Why is the PWD shying away from holding an Open House and Adalats to redress grievances of consumers? What financial burden will the consumers have to bear so as to repay the cost of the Rs1376 crore masterplan to be financed by the Japan Bank ? The Balcao discussion will cover these questions and also evolve an agenda for action by citizens on the issue. Friday Balcao will be from 4pm to 6pm at the Goa Desc Resource Centre No.11 Liberty Apartments Feira Alta, Mapusa and is open to members of the public. We invite you to express your viewpoint by attending the Friday Balcao event but if you cannot attend, then please send your views and action plan suggestions by post to FRIDAY BALCAO Post Box 78, Mapusa 403 507 or by email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] best wishes, Roland Martins ======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goadesc.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy ======================================= -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.14/128 - Release Date: 10/10/2005