Tasikmalaya Declares Emergency as 16,869 Residents Face Water Crisis

The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Tasikmalaya Regency is supplying clean water to 3,115 families, totalling 16,869 individuals, spread across eight sub-districts. The distribution is a response to the emergency disaster status caused by a prolonged dry season that has left many residents’ wells dry. Head of BPBD Tasikmalaya, Roni AKS, stated that the water crisis is exacerbated by environmental damage, the conversion of water catchment areas, water pollution affecting raw water sources, and climate change-induced drought. He noted that the dry season has caused wells at depths of 20 to 25 metres to run dry, with residents experiencing increasingly hot daytime temperatures. The agency is prioritising water deliveries to the most affected villages, with support from the local water utility, Perumda Tirta Sukapura Tasikmalaya. The drought has also severely impacted agriculture, causing crop failures and preventing planting on 1,376 hectares of land, with conditions ranging from mild to moderate. The emergency status also covers the heightened risk of forest and land fires. BPBD has distributed 1,767,000 litres of water to affected villages, including Cijulang in Cineam District, Kertanegla and Pedangkamulyan in Bojonggambir District, and Puteran in Pageurageung District, among others.