DPRD Reviews Rp 48 Billion Capital Injection, Urges PDAM to Improve Services
The Special Committee (Pansus) I of the Central Lombok DPRD inspected the Aik Bone spring in Aik Bukak Village, Batukliang Utara District, on Tuesday (7/7/2026). The visit aimed to verify the availability of raw water while reviewing a proposed capital injection of Rp 48 billion for Perumdam Tirta Ardhia Rinjani.
Committee chairman Murdani stated that the Aik Bone spring currently supplies approximately 70 litres per second to meet the needs of communities, particularly in the northern districts of Batukliang, Batukliang Utara, and Pringgarata. “We want to ensure the adequacy of the water source as a basis for assessing the feasibility of the capital injection. Additional capital must be accompanied by improvements in governance, human resources, and service,” Murdani told reporters after the inspection on Tuesday afternoon.
Murdani explained that the proposed capital injection is still under discussion with the Central Lombok Regency Government. The talks also encompass capital injections for Bank NTB Syariah, BPR RKP, Jamkrida, and PT Lombok Tengah Bersatu. He noted that the final amount cannot yet be determined, as it depends on the results of field studies and the region’s fiscal capacity. “Even if the regional regulation is approved, the realisation of the capital injection will still depend on the scale of priorities and the region’s financial condition. In the past, capital injections were delayed due to earthquakes and the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
During the visit, the committee identified several issues requiring serious attention. One major concern is the pipe network, much of which was built in the 1970s and is now in urgent need of revitalisation. “It is crucial; many pipes date back to the 70s and need revitalisation. Like it or not, this must be a serious concern,” Murdani remarked.
Furthermore, the DPRD is urging the water company and the local government to explore new spring sources to anticipate reduced water discharge due to climate change and longer dry seasons. “With these global conditions, some of our springs are shrinking, not to mention we are facing weather anomalies. This impacts the adequacy of our water sources. Therefore, the local government and BUMD must find solutions,” he stressed.
Several springs are planned for optimisation, including Nyeredep and Tibu Lempanas, along with other sources that have not been fully utilised. There is even a proposal to build small reservoirs or dams in the northern region as water reserves during the dry season. “We need to explore what potential can be tapped, as outlined in the BUMD’s work plan. For example, a lot of water is currently being wasted. There is a proposal from the village head to build a dam so it can be used during the dry season,” Murdani explained.
The committee also highlighted that the water distribution network has yet to reach households in the Mandalika area, despite the main infrastructure being a grant from the central government to the local government. “The Mandalika SPAM has only been in place for a year, and there is no infrastructure connecting to households yet. This is also part of our commitment,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, the DPRD is encouraging Perumdam to not only focus on clean water services but also to develop downstream businesses as a new revenue source. “One idea we are exploring is the development of bottled drinking water. In other regions like Buleleng, Bandung, and Kulon Progo, this model has already been implemented by PDAM. The market opportunity is there, for instance, to supply government offices and schools,” he said. According to the committee, developing such business units could be one option for utilising the capital injection, provided it is supported by a sound business plan and can enhance the company’s performance.
Perumdam Tirta Ardhia Rinjani’s President Director, Bambang Supratomo, said the company currently serves around 53,000 to 54,000 connections, meaning service coverage is still relatively low. “Statistically, PDAM service coverage is only around 14 percent. This is what we want to increase,” he said. In addition to expanding coverage, the government is targeting improvements in the quality, quantity, and continuity of clean water distribution to the public. He acknowledged that fundamental issues need to be addressed, from limited raw water sources to ageing pipe networks. “This is the urgency behind why we must evaluate and revitalise the network,” he stated.
Bambang also noted that the government expects Perumdam not only to meet the basic needs of the community but also to contribute to regional revenue as a BUMD. However, he stressed that these improvement efforts require adequate policy and budget support. He assessed that the planned capital injection of around Rp 48 billion is insufficient to resolve all of Central Lombok’s clean water infrastructure problems. “If we are talking about all the major planned needs, it is certainly not enough. But we also have to be realistic because the region has many other priorities, such as health and roads,” he concluded.