CHILE: Lawmakers seek to protect water

Landmark bill would protect water for public use, including water held inside glaciers.

In one of her last acts as president, outgoing Michelle Bachelet presented a bill to Congress that would declare water a resource for public use, regardless of which region or form it is found, including glaciers.

"What we are doing is much more than proposing a new regulation," said Bachelet, after the bill was presented Jan. 6. "What this is is a political declaration at the highest level. We're doing this based on a profound conviction regarding the role of the state and citizens with respect to public goods that the entire state should guarantee."

Water is "scarce" and "limited," noted Bachelet, who leaves office in March, and legal backing is required to ensure and regulate the resource.

A 1981 law gave priority to hydroelectric plants. Currently, one-third of Chile's non-potable water is held by large transnational companies, including mining firms.

Environmental and rural groups and labor unions cheered the bill, which they say will give Chilean citizens more equitable access to water and create a sustainable management of the resource.

But some agricultural and business groups say, if it passes, the law could hurt industry.

The Agriculture Commission in the Deputies' Chamber approved the bill on Jan. 13, but a full legislature vote is not scheduled until March 2, a week before Bachelet leaves office and billionaire businessman Sebastián Piñera is sworn in as the country's new president.

January 27th, 2010

[Latinamerica Press]