Public blamed for water problems<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Despite widespread problems of water scarcity and poor access to
\nsafe water facing the nation, people in the country have failed
\nto show consistency or discipline to improve their living
\nconditions, President Megawati Soekarnoputri said.<\/p>\n
"Residents in many cities are suffering from a decline in
\nquality water and land, an inconsistent city plan, dwindling
\ngreen spaces and reoccurring floods," she said on Thursday at a
\nceremony commemorating World Environment Day, which falls on June
\n5.<\/p>\n
"These are the situations that inflict losses to the quality
\nof life in big cities, including Jakarta," she added.<\/p>\n
The theme of the 2003 World Environment Day is "Water -- two
\nbillion people are dying for it!"<\/p>\n
She said people had failed to be consistent in their efforts
\nto conserve the environment, even though they used to participate
\nin environmental campaigns, such as the one million tree and blue
\nsky program.<\/p>\n
The lack of discipline among people was a result of their
\nleaders failing to set a good example, the President added.<\/p>\n
Megawati said people and leaders who were consistent and
\ndisciplined would ensure that the environment rehabilitation
\ncampaign was a success, with many people, for example, planting
\ntrees in their backyards and housing complexes.<\/p>\n
"This would be much cheaper than the government moving to
\ncarry out a rehabilitation program every year," she said.<\/p>\n
Megawati refused to address what concrete actions were needed
\nto tackle the problems concerning water resources, saying that
\nsome activities had been put in place in previous years.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony at the National Monument (Monas) park,
\nMegawati also planted Papuan Matoa trees and left her footprints
\non a slab of cement, but tactfully avoided the park's new herd of
\n12 deers.<\/p>\n
State Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim said that
\nJava suffers from a water shortage four months out of the year,
\nwhile Kalimantan was experiencing a decrease in its supply of
\nwater.<\/p>\n
Ironically, floods have reoccurred in a number of cities
\nduring the rainy season, he said.<\/p>\n
In addition, at least 80 percent of Indonesia's population of
\n215 million have no access to running water, which is supposed to
\nbe safe and clean.<\/p>\n
Nabiel blamed rampant illegal logging, unrestrained land
\nconversion and pollution for the bleak water picture.<\/p>\n
During the World Environment Day ceremony, Nabiel announced
\nthat the government had granted the Kalpataru environment award
\nto 12 individuals and communities who persistently fought for the
\npreservation of the environment.<\/p>\n
The recipients are: Yohanes Jaman from West Kalimantan; Hamzah
\nfrom South Kalimantan; Laman from Riau; Titik Tarwati from East
\nJava; H. Azil Anwar Abdul Rahim Kuty from South Sulawesi; Al
\nIttifag Islamic Boarding School in West Java; Tondang Sibidik
\nGroup in North Sulawesi; the Dayak Community in East Kalimantan;
\nI Made Nitis from Bali; Martin Haulussy from Maluku; and Paris
\nSembiring from North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
The government also awarded Balikpapan in East Kalimantan,
\nBadung and Tabanan, both in Bali, with trophies for being the
\ncities that implemented the best environmental practices.<\/p>\n
Next year, the government will carry out surveys on the
\nenvironmental practices of 200 cities, an increase from the 59
\nthat were monitored this year.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/public-blamed-for-water-problems-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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