EU-aided water project launched<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Settlement and Regional
\nInfrastructure in cooperation with the European Union (EU)
\nlaunched on Wednesday a water management project in the provinces
\nof Lampung, East Java and Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
"The project is aimed at finding a holistic plan of water
\nmanagement spanning from downstream to upstream in several river
\nbasins that have been damaged over the past few years," Minister
\nErna Witoelar said after receiving a total grant of 3.9 million-
\neuros for the three-year project from EU representatives here.<\/p>\n
The three areas chosen for the project are the Seputih -
\nSekampung river basin in Lampung, the Progo-Opak-Oyo basin in
\nYogyakarta and the Pacitan river basin in East Java.<\/p>\n
The government has contributed some 0.3 million euros.<\/p>\n
"With regional autonomy in process, a special board comprising
\nlocal leaders is needed to coordinate the use of water," she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
A lack of adequate planning of water resources has led to
\nwidespread environmental damage and natural disasters such as
\nfloods and landslides, she said.<\/p>\n
"That and the fact that water is a strategic issue since many
\nrivers are located across regions.. if it is not carefully
\nplanned there is potential for dispute," she said.<\/p>\n
The project will introduce a new approach in which all
\nstakeholders including farmers as water users are involved in
\nretaining the quality and quantity of water and preparing proper
\ndistribution for irrigation, industrial sites and household
\nactivities, Director General for Water Resources Soenarno told
\nThe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
"In the end water users are the ones responsible for water
\nmanagement.<\/p>\n
"At the same time, in the Lampung area the construction of a
\n120-meter high Batugegi dam will be completed in July," Soenarno
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The scheme will be conducted by project management units that
\nemphasize four main points: the development of the river basin
\nwater-board, the long-term management of the river basin,
\ninstitutional development to set efficient district level
\nagencies as well as the transfer of responsibilities to water
\nuser's organization and erosion and flood prevention.<\/p>\n
The ministry also runs other water management schemes from
\nother donors such as in five regencies near Danau Tempe in South
\nSulawesi and another major project involving 29 regencies in
\nCentral and East Java.<\/p>\n
"We believed the water management project in part exemplifies
\ngood governance especially with regard to the country's current
\nchange towards a democratic society," said Sabato Della Monica,
\nhead of the delegation from the European Commission in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Della Monica was also accompanied by Ambassador of Sweden
\nHarald Sandberg, representative of the country which currently
\nholds the EU Presidency.<\/p>\n
The European Commission has been supporting water resources
\nprojects since 1976, in particular those involved with irrigation
\nand the drainage system.<\/p>\n
"Our commitment to this sector since 1976 has totaled more
\nthan 112 million Euros," Della Monica said. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/eu-aided-water-project-launched-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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