Public told to conserve water<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono refreshes himself with water
\nfrom a well in Sumber village, Wonogiri, Central Java.<\/p>\n
The President urged the public on Friday to help conserve
\nwater in order to avoid shortages. Speaking during a ceremony
\ntitled "Using Clean Water to Support the People's Economy",
\nSusilo said that while Indonesia had a great deal of water
\nresources, they were not evenly spread.<\/p>\n
"Some water can be obtained through drilling but that costs a
\nlot," said Susilo.<\/p>\n
He also took the opportunity to defend the much-criticized Law
\nNo.7\/2004 on water resources, saying it was enacted to ensure
\nthat the state fulfilled its obligation to provide clean water to
\nthe public.<\/p>\n
The law is currently being challenged before the
\nConstitutional Court, with non-governmental organizations arguing
\nthat it commercializes water and converts it into an economic
\ncommodity.<\/p>\n
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro
\nsaid there the country had some 5,500 billion cubic meters of
\nwater reserves, and at least 421 major water basins.<\/p>\n
In Central Java alone, at least six districts and 35 villages
\nhave no access to water, forcing residents to spend their hard-
\nearned cash on buying water. At least seven regencies -- Rembang,
\nBlora, Purwodadi, Pati, Kudus, Sragen and Wonogiri -- regularly
\nexperience severe droughts during the dry season.<\/p>\n
This situation, said Central Java Governor Mardiyanto,
\nresulted in farmers losing up to Rp 327.6 billion (US$34.5
\nmillion) every year.<\/p>\n
Minister of Public Works Djoko Kirmanto said that over 900
\nvillages were categorized as water critical due to problems in
\naccessing water sources.<\/p>\n
"In these areas, people have to pay between Rp 25,000 and Rp
\n50,000 for just one cubic meter of water. In Jakarta, people only
\npay about Rp 5,000 for the same amount of water," said Djoko. --
\nBlontank Poer\/The Jakarta Post, Wonogiri<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/public-told-to-conserve-water-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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