Govt to let councils set water rates<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Following the enactment of a controversial water resources law,
\nthe government is expected to surrender its power to determine
\nwater rates and manage regional tap water companies to regional
\nconsultative councils.<\/p>\n
Patana Rantetoding, the director general of city and village
\naffairs of the public works ministry, said on Monday the issue
\nwould be covered in a government regulation on the development of
\ntap water systems.<\/p>\n
The government regulation will be passed in support of Law No.
\n4\/2004 on water resources. The government is currently completing
\nthe draft of the regulation.<\/p>\n
\"Consultative councils, according to the draft of the
\ngovernment regulation, are legislative councils located in state-
\nowned and regional-owned tap water companies,\" Patana was quoted
\nby Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
He said the councils would consist of both members of society
\nas well as representatives of the central government and local
\nadministrations.<\/p>\n
During a discussion on the draft regulation, Patana said the
\nmain duties of the council would be to set water rates and to
\nappoint directors of regional tap water companies, a privilege
\ncurrently in the hands of local administrations.<\/p>\n
\"The rates will be based on local income levels. That is why
\nit must be decided by consultative councils,\" Patana said.<\/p>\n
These councils also will be able to rule on the possible
\ninvolvement of the public sector, including cooperatives and
\npublic groups, in the tap water business, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The private sector will be allowed to participate in the
\nbusiness with the consent of a consultative council,\" Patana
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said the approximately 300 regional tap water companies
\n(PDAM) were still unable to deliver water to the majority of
\nIndonesians.<\/p>\n
\"With some 95,500 cubic meters a second, the PDAMs can only
\ndeliver water to some 40 million customers. With this capacity,
\nit should be able to fill the needs of some 100 million
\ncustomers,\" Patana said.<\/p>\n
Separately, activist Nila Ardhiani of the People's Coalition
\nfor Water Access criticized the draft regulation, saying it would
\nresult in a heavier burden on the people, particularly the poor.<\/p>\n
\"The government is creating too many new institutions for the
\nwater sector. Who will pay for those institutions? I fear that it
\nwill influence the tap water rates,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Nila also questioned whether the government would be able to
\nguarantee that members of the consultative councils would really
\nrepresent the public.<\/p>\n
\"How can they guarantee the members will not represent just
\nthe interests of the private sector?\" she asked, criticizing the
\ngovernment for its half-hearted attempt to involve the public in
\ndrafting the regulation.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's water resources law has been roundly criticized
\nfor, among other things, encouraging the privatization of the
\nwater sector.<\/p>\n
Activists have brought the law to the Constitutional Court for
\na judicial review.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-to-let-councils-set-water-rates-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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