Farmers to bear the brunt of water resource bill
Farmers to bear the brunt of water resource bill
Muninggar Sri Saraswati and Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post,
Karawang/Yogyakarta
A group of farmers from one of Java island's premier rice-growing
areas expressed their opposition to the water resources bill
currently being deliberated by the House of Representatives,
saying it would make their lives even more difficult.
Abdul Arief, the secretary-general of the Karawang Farmers
Council, said the farmers were not getting enough irrigation
water as most was being allocated to industry and urban dwellers
in Jakarta.
The Jatiluhur reservoir supplies water to the Karawang
irrigation system. Agriculture in the area is greatly dependent
on irrigation.
"Don't neglect the farmers any longer. We have no more money
to pay for water," he said on Wednesday.
Karawang, one of major rice producing areas in the country, is
located some 100 kilometers east of Jakarta.
"According to the weather forecasters, this year's dry season
will not be as prolonged as that in 1997 as there is no El Nino
phenomenon at work. But how come there is not enough water to
irrigate all the farmland around here?" he asked.
In 1997, most farmers in Karawang were unable to plant their
crops due to a severe drought.
According to the latest official data from the administration,
some 22,000 out of the 86,067 hectares of farmland in the area
are faced with water shortages. While some 8,000 hectares of
crops were almost certain to fail, Arief said this figure could
yet double.
"Why should we suffer for the sake of Jakarta and the
industrial sector?" Arief asked.
The controversy over the bill centers on the possibility of
the private sector gaining control of water resources, and
widespread fears that this could threaten public access to water.
Separately, the Association of Indonesian Farmers and
Fishermen (HKTI) called for a revision of the bill, saying it
failed to protect the agricultural sector.
HKTI chairman Siswono Yudohusodo said that he was concerned by
the fact that there was not a special chapter in the bill devoted
to water for agriculture and irrigation.
"As a result, as far as I can see from the draft, water
will be simply regarded as a commodity, whether for agricultural,
industrial or other purposes," he said in Yogyakarta.
Siswono said a revision was essential so as to guarantee clean
and affordable water for all Indonesian citizens.
However, the HKTI realized the need for a law on water
resources due to the fact that available water supplies would not
be able to meet the constantly increasing demand.
Several non-governmental organizations, as well as some
experts, have criticized the bill as benefiting the private
sector more than the public.
The House is expected to endorse the bill on Sept. 23 despite
the protracted controversy.