House Commission VII Highlights Waste and Clean Water Crisis in NTB's Gili Islands
The House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VII has highlighted the pressing issues of waste management and the clean water crisis in the Gili Islands, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). Rahayu Saraswati Djojohadikusumo, Vice Chair of Commission VII, urged the NTB Provincial Government to take swift action during a working visit to the Governor’s office in Mataram on Tuesday.
“The Gili islands are a conservation area. Therefore, we must sit down with other ministries, including the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Forestry,” Rahayu stated. She noted that two waste incinerators in Gili Trawangan are currently non-operational. “We are concerned because this is an island area. We fear the waste will spill into the sea. We request that a centralised waste disposal site be ensured, similar to the one in the Thousand Islands,” she added.
NTB Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal acknowledged that waste management in Gili Trawangan falls under the authority of the North Lombok Regency Government. However, he pledged to find a solution to transport the accumulated waste to the mainland. “The waste is piling up now. I am worried, especially during this hot season. We are thinking about how to remove all the waste from there in the near future to prevent temporary accumulation,” Iqbal explained.
Separately, the Head of the NTB Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Disparekraf), Ahmad Nur Aulia, admitted there are obstacles in managing waste across the three Gilis (Trawangan, Meno, and Air). He explained that the issue is linked to overlapping area statuses. “There is an infrastructure problem. The incinerator exists, but operational permits cannot be issued because it is a conservation area. This is a fundamental issue regarding the area’s status, so we need to coordinate with the relevant ministries,” Aulia revealed.
Beyond waste, the clean water crisis on Gili Meno remains a serious concern for the local government. According to Aulia, the option of laying underwater pipes from Gili Air to Gili Meno or Trawangan is currently not technically feasible. “The pipeline option appears unfeasible due to technical considerations regarding sea currents. Currently, the Regency Government and the Regional Water Company (PDAM) are applying for permits from the relevant ministry to extract groundwater using the beach well method,” Aulia clarified. He added that residents and tourism businesses on Gili Meno still rely on the old method of transporting and supplying clean water from the mainland.