Commission V Urges Clean Water Mitigation to be Implemented Before Crisis Hits
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Deputy Chairman of Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Andi Iwan Darmawan Aras, has urged the Ministry of Public Works, alongside the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), to accelerate mitigation steps to face the threats of El Niño and prolonged droughts, which could exacerbate clean water issues, without waiting for a crisis to occur.
He stated that such mitigation is in line with the government’s focus on meeting the basic needs of the community, including access to clean water. According to him, one of the regions already experiencing clean water issues is Makassar, South Sulawesi.
“This week, there has been a sharp surge in widespread complaints in Makassar, ranging from demonstrations to complaints in various mass media and social media,” Andi said in his statement in Jakarta on Saturday.
He noted that the government needs to act early by using climate data and projections as the basis for taking field actions.
Commission V of the DPR has also inspected the Mamminasata Regional Drinking Water Supply System (SPAM) in Gowa Regency. The inspection was conducted to directly observe the progress of services and the readiness of clean water supply infrastructure for the community.
He stated that the current clean water situation should serve as an alarm for all stakeholders. Furthermore, the threat of El Niño and prolonged droughts could place greater pressure on the availability of raw water sources if not anticipated from the outset.
Therefore, he requested that BMKG not stop at providing climate forecasts and warnings. This information, according to him, needs to be translated by the Ministry of Public Services and local governments into mitigation schemes that can be implemented immediately.
He argued that clean water issues must be handled comprehensively from upstream to downstream. The Directorate General of Water Resources of the Ministry of Public Works needs to ensure the availability and management of raw water sources, while the Directorate General of Human Settlements needs to ensure that the water supply and service systems for the community operate optimally.
“The Mamminasata Regional SPAM also needs continuous evaluation so that the capacity of the built infrastructure can truly meet the needs of the people in Makassar, Gowa, Maros, Takalar, and other areas within the service coverage,” he said.
He also reminded that mitigation should not only be undertaken once the community is already struggling to obtain water.
Warnings regarding the potential for El Niño and prolonged droughts should serve as the basis for preparing water sources, supporting infrastructure, and emergency schemes long before a crisis spreads.
“We encourage that attention to these basic needs be translated through supervision and concrete steps alongside technical ministries, specifically to ensure that citizens continue to receive water supplies amidst the risks of climate change,” he concluded.