Komparta rejects water price hike<\/p>\n
The Community of Jakarta Tap Water Subscribers (Komparta)
\npraises the attitude of British Ambassador to Indonesia Richard
\nGozney, who met with Vice President Hamzah Haz to complain about
\nthe losses suffered by Thames Water International. This company
\nhas cooperated with Jakarta's water operator, PAM Jaya, since
\n1998 by setting up PT Thames PAM Jaya (TPJ). Indonesian
\nambassadors abroad should do the same as Ambassador Gozney,
\nparticularly in the case of Indonesian migrant workers.<\/p>\n
Regrettably, the head of Jakarta's tap water regulatory board
\nearlier served foreign interests by indicating the need to raise
\nsubscription rates to avoid protracted deficits. While Ambassador
\nGozney referred to an accumulated loss of US$58 million, the
\ncompany should make a transparent report.<\/p>\n
Is it true that the loss results from a mismatch between the
\nprice and the sale value of water? Can't profit still be secured
\nby reducing the rate of water leakage, now admitted to reach 61
\npercent?<\/p>\n
In Komparta's view, the present economic conditions in Jakarta
\nare not conducive to a tap water price hike. The numerous leaks
\nin distribution pipes should be minimized to 10 percent and PAM
\nwater thefts properly handled. Such cases may harm public
\ninterest and lead to civil and criminal suits, as Komparta is now
\ndoing with its class-action suit at the Central Jakarta District
\nCourt.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta provincial administration should review the joint
\noperation (KSO) with its foreign partner to ascertain its
\nsignificant benefits to PAM subscribers. In advanced countries
\nconsumers of public goods are protected, while in Indonesia
\nwater, a vital means of human life, is treated as a commercial
\ngood.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the presence of expatriates in this field should be
\nevaluated to determine their role in technology transfer, the KSO
\naccord of 1998 checked for transparency and the government held
\nresponsible for the fulfillment of this vital need as required by
\nthe Constitution.<\/p>\n
SUTA WIDHYA<\/p>\n
Chairman, Komparta Public Relations<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/komparta-rejects-water-price-hike-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }