Legislators upbeat about controversial water bill

Legislators upbeat about controversial water bill

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Legislators deliberating the controversial water bill were
optimistic on Saturday that the draft would be endorsed before
the House of Representatives ended its current sitting session on
Dec. 19.

"The schedule will be discussed on Monday and we may resume
deliberating the bill on Dec. 3 or Dec. 4," said Erman Suparno,
chairman of the House working committee for the bill.

The bill has sparked controversy due to its contents which
some observers say position water as an economic rather than
social commodity.

"But we don't know whether Commission IV will approve it. It
takes time," said Erman, a politician from the National Awakening
Party (PKB), referring to the commission for communications and
settlements.

The deliberation of the bill had been postponed due to public
opposition concerning the privatization of the water sector. The
House had asked the committee to invite more public
participation.

Erman said that the House would stage a road show across the
country to promote the bill.

On Nov. 28, the Ministry of Settlements and Regional
Infrastructure, which strongly supports the bill, paid for a two-
page supplement in Kompas daily, the biggest newspaper in
Indonesia, to publish the 96 articles of the bill. It invited
readers to give input to the ministry.

Legislator Erwin Pardede of the Indonesian Democratic Party
for Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said that the committee would only
need a few days to finish the bill because they only have to
deliberate three articles on irrigation, weather modification,
and the regulatory body.

"It may only take two or three days. We will finish it this
year," he said confidently.

Earlier, some non-governmental organizations suggested that
the endorsement of the controversial water bill was linked to the
last disbursement of the US$300 million loan granted under the
World Bank-sponsored Water Resources Sector Adjustment Loan
(Watsal).

But Erwin insisted on Saturday that the deliberation of the
bill had nothing to do with the loans.

"This bill is for Indonesians. If the World Bank wishes to use
it, then it is fine. It's just a coincidence," Erwin said.

Based on the Watsal scheme, the World Bank will disburse the
loans in three stages. The first $50 million was disbursed in
June 1999 and the second disbursement of $100 million was made at
the end of 2001.

The remaining $150 million will be disbursed once Indonesia
completes its water reform initiative, which includes the
enforcement of a water resource law that allows the privatization
of the water sector.

The World Bank has indicated that it may not disburse the
third and last trance of the Watsal if Indonesia fails to produce
a bill on water resources to meet a 1999 commitment on water
resources policy reform.

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

The World Bank has rejected the accusation that it involves in
bringing in giant foreign companies to invest in the water sector
in the country.

Analysts have said that the government may face difficulties
to maintain its financial balance if the bank stops its third
disbursement of Watsal.