Question

describe the popular water struggle of Bolivia​

Answer 1

1. World bank pressurised Bolivian gov. to sell its water rights. So, the country sold it out Cochabamba city water rights to a MNC which increased the price of water by 4 times the original price.

2. People reacted in a struggle against the MNC and gov. to stop this. A new alliance of human righhts and community leaders organised a four day general strike in the city in Jan 2000

3. All type of people came to support the strike. The reason was that in a country with avg. income 5000 Rs. the water bill recieved was 1000 Rs. At first the gov negoitiated to call of the strike, but later reacted brutually by imposing martial law.

4. But the power of people drove the MNC out of the city and the contract of water was cancelled.