what's the big deal?

In response to a posting in a yahoo-group about a failed privatised water supply scheme in Felton, US, Mr M posted a comment reading "Interesting, perhaps inconceivable, that in the bastion of a market economy that a public body would "buy" a civic utility from a private company! May be, the votaries of PPP in our country could study why this happened and learn a few lessons".

In turn, I commented as below:

I don't understand what's the big deal. Felton municipality was not satisfied with the existing water supply system. A few years back, it chose to engage a private 'behemoth' or whatever to take over the service, but without building in adequate checks and balances into the arrangement. It has now realised the mistake, and wants to take it back, paying a high price for it. But, the fact remains that it is ill-equipped to handle the job by itself, which is the case with all the municipalities, as well as the BWSSB's. So, the moral of the story is to re-invent the mechanism so that it's beneficial to all, rather than perpetuate the status quo.