India mulls water's role in 'monetisation' drive

摘要

Experts have said that the water sector may struggle to play a major role in the asset lease programme announced in India late last month, as the country looks to raise funds from its infrastructure portfolio. The National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) launched in August aims to raise INR6 trillion ($81 billion) by 2025 through the transfer of operating rights for selected infrastructure assets from the central government and public sector entities to the private sector. The NMP announcement covers a host of infrastructure sectors including water and sewerage networks, and as well as raising funds, it is aimed at increasing private participation in infrastructure operations, maintenance and upgrades through structured contractual partnerships.