Govt, House told to unite over water bill

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A hydrology observer has suggested that the government and the House of Representatives heed public demand for a water resource legislation that provides access to safe and affordable water, instead of bowing to pressures for privatization.

Wijanto Hadipura, a hydrology and hydrologic engineering lecturer at Semarang-based Soegijapranata Catholic University, asked the government and the House to remain vigilant against external pressures for reform in the country's water resource management.

"We are talking about people's access to water, which is considered a basic human right. The government and the House must prove that they are not dictated by certain international interests in their attempt to manage water resources," he said on Wednesday.

He was referring to the World Bank, which has indicated that it might not disburse the third and last tranche of the Water Resources Sector Adjustment Loan (Watsal), totaling US$150 million, if Indonesia failed to produce a legislation in line with a 1999 commitment on water resources policy reform.

The deliberation of the draft bill is hanging in the balance, mainly due to public opposition of the privatization of the water sector as is stipulated in the bill, which will make water a commodity.

Irrigation is another controversial issue, with the bank insisting that farmers must be empowered to manage irrigation.

The office of the State Minister of National Development Planning and the Golkar faction and the United Development faction at the House shared the bank's view.

The Ministry of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, on the other hand, has demanded that the government retain its authority over irrigation, due to farmers' incapability.

Wijanto questioned the friction within the government regarding the bill.

"Why do they only think about their own interests? They do not defend public interests. Why don't they argue privatization, which is clearly stipulated in the bill?"

The government, he conceded, would face difficulties if the bank canceled its final Watsal disbursement.

"But, I believe if they can unite, we can bear the burden," he said.

Nila Ardhianie, a member of non-governmental organization the Coalition for People's Rights to Water, urged the bank and other donors to prove they did not invest for the benefit of multinational water companies.

The World Bank has strongly denied allegations that it has a hidden agenda to usher in foreign companies to invest in Indonesia's water sector.

The government signed its commitment with the World Bank on Watsal in 1999, when it faced severe financial difficulties due to the prolonged economic crisis.

The loan scheme requires that Indonesia reform its legislation on water and allow the privatization of the water sector.