EU-aided water project launched
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)