Salem Corporation urged to shelve plan to privatise drinking water supply

The Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) has urged the Salem Corporation to withdraw its decision to privatise the drinking water supply in the city.

Various resolutions were passed at the RSP’s Kondalampatti zone conference, which was headed by State secretary A. Jeevanandham on Sunday, a press release said. At the meeting, the RSP urged the Corporation to supply drinking water to the residents instead of handing it over to private parties. In wards 58, 59, and 60, the civic body has been collecting under ground drainage (UGD) deposits for providing new water connections and to fix property tax. But, UGD scheme has not been implemented in these wards. The Corporation should stop collecting this deposit, the release added. The party also urged the Corporation not to hike property tax.

The party also urged the Corporation not to implement the proposed waste-to-energy project, as it alleged that under the project waste from five districts would be dumped in Salem district.