Quick action sought against water theft

Quick action sought against water theft

JAKARTA (JP): A councillor revealed on Wednesday that as many
as 4,729 unauthorized pipe installations had been found in the
city's three mayoralties since the beginning of this year.

"Water theft should be stopped. We don't want it to affect the
revenue of the city-owned tap water firm PT PAM Jaya," Councillor
Muhayar of the Justice Party told reporters.

Muhayar, a member of City Council Commission D for public
works, development and environment affairs, called for immediate
action against water theft to avoid the firm's failing to reach
its revenue target.

He said PAM Jaya was targeted to contribute Rp 500 million
(US$45,454) to the 2001 City Budget, after suffering losses in
past years due to its long term and foreign debts.

He urged PAM Jaya's foreign partner PT Thames Pam Jaya (TPJ)
to help stop water theft as the firm, a subsidiary of British
Thames Water International, managed water supplies in the area.

Unauthorized water installations exist in North, Central and
East Jakarta, or those parts of eastern Jakarta that are served
by TPJ.

As for the water shortage due to the collapse of the West
Tarum Canal dike in Kali Malang, Muhayar said this was beyond the
responsibility of TPJ and the other PAM Jaya foreign partner, PT
Pam Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja).

He said it was the Ministry of Settlement and Regional
Infrastructure that ought to be held responsible for the
collapse.

The ministry, through its supervisory company Perum Jasa Tirta
II, was responsible for the water supply from Jatiluhur dam in
West Java and maintenance of the dike, he added.

He also said that the city had bought 4,650 million cubic
meters per year, at a cost of Rp 20 billion (US$1,8 million) from
Jasa Tirta II for water supply.

"So the money should also be used for maintenance of the
dike," he said.

Jasa Tirta II had earlier complained about the lack of funds
to finance the maintenance of all dikes and water networks in the
city.

Separately, PT Palyja said in a statement on Wednesday that
its water supply to customers had 97 percent returned to normal.

The firm said it currently could produce 597,000 cubic meters
per day, compared with the normal 615,000 cubic meters, expecting
that it would return to normal by this week. (jun)