EU-aided water project launched
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure in cooperation with the European Union (EU) launched on Wednesday a water management project in the provinces of Lampung, East Java and Yogyakarta.
"The project is aimed at finding a holistic plan of water management spanning from downstream to upstream in several river basins that have been damaged over the past few years," Minister Erna Witoelar said after receiving a total grant of 3.9 million- euros for the three-year project from EU representatives here.
The three areas chosen for the project are the Seputih - Sekampung river basin in Lampung, the Progo-Opak-Oyo basin in Yogyakarta and the Pacitan river basin in East Java.
The government has contributed some 0.3 million euros.
"With regional autonomy in process, a special board comprising local leaders is needed to coordinate the use of water," she said.
A lack of adequate planning of water resources has led to widespread environmental damage and natural disasters such as floods and landslides, she said.
"That and the fact that water is a strategic issue since many rivers are located across regions.. if it is not carefully planned there is potential for dispute," she said.
The project will introduce a new approach in which all stakeholders including farmers as water users are involved in retaining the quality and quantity of water and preparing proper distribution for irrigation, industrial sites and household activities, Director General for Water Resources Soenarno told The Jakarta Post.
"In the end water users are the ones responsible for water management.
"At the same time, in the Lampung area the construction of a 120-meter high Batugegi dam will be completed in July," Soenarno said.
The scheme will be conducted by project management units that emphasize four main points: the development of the river basin water-board, the long-term management of the river basin, institutional development to set efficient district level agencies as well as the transfer of responsibilities to water user's organization and erosion and flood prevention.
The ministry also runs other water management schemes from other donors such as in five regencies near Danau Tempe in South Sulawesi and another major project involving 29 regencies in Central and East Java.
"We believed the water management project in part exemplifies good governance especially with regard to the country's current change towards a democratic society," said Sabato Della Monica, head of the delegation from the European Commission in Indonesia.
Della Monica was also accompanied by Ambassador of Sweden Harald Sandberg, representative of the country which currently holds the EU Presidency.
The European Commission has been supporting water resources projects since 1976, in particular those involved with irrigation and the drainage system.
"Our commitment to this sector since 1976 has totaled more than 112 million Euros," Della Monica said. (edt)