Inaugurating the ‘jala sabha’ organised by the district unit of Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP) here on Thursday, Mr. Premachandran said Kerala should come forward to fight for declaration of drinking water as a birth right.

He said drinking water was a commodity, and the reforms in the drinking water sector in the State were being implemented on the lines of policies pursued by the Centre.

“Now, there is a move to exploit the drinking water market in the State which is spearheaded by a few bureaucrats and multinational companies. The government order now stipulates that the drinking water should be sold by the Kerala Water Authority at the rate at which water is being sold by multinational companies.

This order is being issued by throwing to the wind the Kerala Water Authority Bill that has been passed by the Legislative Assembly.

This is illegal and a challenge to people of Kerala,” the former Water Resources Minister said.

He said the water shortage that the State was now facing was not part of the climate change, but a ‘human creation’.

It was the result of destroying the ‘water towers’ like hills and mountains, he added.

KSSP environment subcommittee convener Joji Kuttummel and KSSP district member M. Gopakumar were present.