Ecobreves – PERU: Expanding Debate on Water Law

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

LIMA, Jun 16 2003 (IPS) - Peru's President Alejandro Toledo assured that he does not intend to privatize water services and agreed to extend public debate on a legislative bill by 150 days, after farmers engaged in protests in May that shut down roads and bridges at 64 locations throughout the country. Agricultural leaders say that the draft plan, released in late April, proposes a water market through concessions to companies for administration and commercial exploitation, which would concede the private sector rights over this essential resource, allowing companies to control farm activities and increase rates.

The distribution of water for irrigation in each valley is now based on the total area of farmable land belonging to each landowner.