Jakarta (Greeners) – Civil societies urged DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to stop contracts with PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya or PALYJA and PT Aetra Air Jakarta arguing that data showed private sectors could only accommodate 14 percent during 21 years working with the provincial government.

Aditya Putra Brata, head of Water Resources and Clean Water Development and Improvement, DKI Jakarta Water Resources Agency, said that in 1998, Jakarta water company or PAM has been partnering with two companies, Palyja and PT Aetra, with 25 years contract, up till 2023. However, up to this date, Jakarta’s clean water distribution from PAM only covers 59 percent, with the rests are supplied by extracting ground water or buying from water sellers.

“Before signing contracts with partners in 1998, as far as I know, PAM water services was 45 percent throughout Jakarta. So, 59 percent is not from zero, but already half being covered by PAM. So, basically, their [the companies] contribution to serve Jakartans is only 14 percent. Hence, judging from this, their don’t have the ability and low achievement,” said Brata in Jakarta, on Tuesday (09/04/2019).

Furthermore, he said that areas yet to be covered by clean water in Jakarta are west, north, and some of south sides.

To meet the demands, people then buy water using jerrycans.

“Currently, water resources in Jakarta is nearly 97 percent supplied from outside of Jakarta; 81 percent from Jatiluhur dam and around 16 percent from Tangerang, which depends on processed water,” he said.

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Based on the 1998’s contract, concession areas of the partners were divided into two, — eastern parts of upstream to downstream of Ciliwung river will be managed by PT Aetra and western parts will be handled by Palyja –.

Based on data provided by Palyja, customers with access to clean water under Palyja are groups of 40,663 low income households, 2,717 social groups, 117,236 middle class households, 73,580 small and middle households, 128,656 rich and middle households, and 43,949 large scale business, up to 2018.

PT Aetra did not provide comments by the time the article was published.

Furthermore, Brata said that clean water distribution should be managed by the government as private sector will rely on benefits. The system is regulated under government regulation issued in 2015 about Drinking Water Distribution System.

“If private sector will see which sides are profitable and not profitable. If the governor regulation, the lowest rate is Rp1,050 (US$0,074) and the highest is Rp10,000 (US$0,71), if I were private company, of course, I will charge the highest. Hence, the government regulation stipulates water distribution to be managed by the government,” he said. “It does not mean you cannot work together, but there’s a line which one’s allowed and not referring to the government regulation. Yet, if I read the contract in 1998, not much beneficial for the government. It’s unfortunate that the intensity to evaluate it just come recently.”

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Meanwhile, People’s Coalition Reject DKI Jakarta Water Privatization representative, Suhendi, said that the contract did not involve public participation and not transparent, meanwhile DKI Jakarta governor has repeatedly stated that “water is public”.

Suhendi expressed disappointment that DKI Jakarta does not involve public in the policy making to stop water privatization in Jakarta.

“It shows that what DKI Jakarta governor said counter-productive with his attitude in decision making. Minimum transparency and public participation resulted to three mechanisms offered by Water Management Team, which has been conducted for the past six months. However, all these mechanisms don’t provide solution, instead has the potential to repeat the same mistakes and create new problems on water distribution in Jakarta,” he said.

The coalition demands the governor to:
1. Act firm and not giving false promises in enforcing the Constitution to claim water management by the State for people’s welfare.
2. Open public participation in decision making to stop water privatization and return water management in Jakarta to the State.
3. Uphold the Constitution by ending the contract between DKI Jakarta provincial government with PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya (PT PALYJA) and PT AETRA Air Jakarta.
4. DKI Jakarta House of Representatives to monitor decision making of water management in Jakarta.

Reports by Dewi Purningsih

Jakarta (Greeners) – Botanical gardens serve as water catchment areas and protect its supply. Hence, developing botanical garden can be considered as one of solution to tackle water issues with integrated water management, from up to downstream using technology.

Head of Indonesian Institute for Sciences, Iskandar Zulkarnain, said that LIPI had managed to apply water security concept for small island with minimum access on clean water supply using technology for the past few years. The concept dubbed as One Island, One Plan, One Water.

READ ALSO: Celebrating Two Centennials, Bogor Botanical Garden Showcase Rare Stinky Flower

“The concept of One Island, One Plan, One Water offers water management for a region or island with integrated system from the upstream to downstream,” said Iskandar, in Jakarta, on Tuesday(16/5). “To manage water in a region or island, it must be integrated in one system.”

Meanwhile, LIPI’s Plant Conservation Center Head, Didik Widyatmoko, said LIPI’s integrated concept for water management, One Island, One Plan, One Water, along with botanical garden’s conservation function can be applied in areas prone to water scarcity.

READ ALSO: Bogor Botanical Garden Highlights Waste Management for Its 200 Years Celebration

With the implementation, said Widyatmoko, spatial planning and regional planning concepts will push forward environmental friendly development based on technology, including natural resources management, water management technology, water conservation technology, water quality and quantity technology, water distribution technology, water quality testing technology, and waste water management technology.

“The concept is to make water management integrated system in a regional as the foundation of regional economic development because water security is the most important foundation of food and energy securities,” he said.

Reports by Danny Kosasih

Jakarta (Greeners) – Indonesia and Denmark establish an agreement to tackle waste and water issues worth of nearly US$150,000 through sharing best practice and innovation, said Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya, in Jakarta, on Tuesday (2/5).

“[The] President has underlined waste is a problem for us. Hence, if waste can become resources and there are investors, we welcome [them],” she said.

READ ALSO: Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Will Focus On Ocean and Coastal Plastic Waste

The Government to Government Cooperation will see Danish experts assigned to Indonesia starting on July 2017.

On her visit to Jakarta’s northern coastal area with Minister of Development Cooperation, Ms. Ulla Tornaes, Minister Nurbaya said that ocean pollution in the area was categorized as heavy.

“From our observation with Ms. Ulla, we can still found waste floating in the ocean. The color is murky and dirty. We can imagine the big challenge faced by Indonesia in waste and water management,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Tornaes said that the agreement aimed at technology and knowledge transfer. In addition, developing waste and water management. Based on experience, she added, Denmark was able to recycle up to 70 percent of its waste and transform it to energy.

“I come here to know more about challenges in Indonesia in relation to its waste and water management, including plastic waste. Denmark posses the knowledge and experience in the issue which we want to share to Indonesia,” she said.

READ ALSO: Two Approaches To Manage Waste Water From PUPera

On the trip, Minister of Environment and Forestry visited four locations, — Muara Angke, Kali Pesanggrahan, Pluit Pump Station and Sunda Kelapa –. Based on national data and solid waste profile, waste production in Indonesia reaches 64 million tons per year.

In 2025, Indonesia aims to reduce waste up to 30 percent or 20.9 million tons per year and manage waste up to 70 percent or 49.9 million tons per year.

Waste composition in Indonesia comprises of 60 percent organic, 15 percent plastic, 10 percent paper, and 15 percent of metal, glass, clothes and leather. Hence, Indonesia has bigger opportunities to produce energy from waste sector.

Reports by Danny Kosasih