Aguas del Illimani: Water supply secure despite strikes

Water concessionaire Aguas del Illimani in Bolivia's capital La Paz has denied rumors that basic water services are in danger of being interrupted due to ongoing unrest, according to local press. There is no risk of the water being cut off, so people must rest assured, local daily El Diario quoted Illimani spokesperson Tania Jaldin as saying. La Paz has been in the throes of widespread strikes and public unrest in recent weeks organized by groups seeking to nationalize the natural gas industry and allow constitutional reforms. Reports of a probable cut in the potable water supply were part of a strategy by militant organizations intent on pressuring the government to set up a constitutional assembly, according to reports. "We are taking [the reports] as rumors; we have not suffered any infrastructure damage and are working as normal even though the strikes have affected us," Tania Jaldin said. State military troops have taken over security at Illimani's plants at Puchukollo and El Alto, she added. Bolivia's government moved to replace Illimani - controlled by French water giant Suez - after residents complained about lack of services in parts of the city and water bills tied to the US dollar. Illimani says it complied fully with its obligations under the contract it had with the government to supply basic service operations to one million residents in La Paz and satellite town El Alto via concession in 1997.