REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BADUNG -- The Minister of Agrarian and Space/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN), Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) proposed the formation of a special board to deal with water governance and management in Indonesia. According to him, such a special body can be a container for water management in order to deal with the threat of water crisis.

“I spoke earlier at the forum about an idea to form a body dedicated to dealing with water,” AHY said during the 10th World Water Forum (WWF) series in Nusa Dua, Badung Regency, Bali, Wednesday (22/5/2024).

“You want it to be called a national water body, or whatever. It also sees the importance of coordinating and synchronizing all water management affairs at the central, provincial, district/city, sub-district, even village level,” AHY added.

In order not to simply add new bureaucracy, AHY explained, the special body must have the authority and capacity to manage water comprehensively, including spatial planning and land preparation coordinated with various Ministries. In addition, the regulation also needs to be well prepared.

“If there is no dedicated body dealing with water issues, I think it will be a shared challenge, because ready not to be prepared for the water crisis that threatens us,” AHY said.

According to AHY, a number of countries have also established specialized bodies or institutions that deal with water issues. That agency has authority and authority. “So in my opinion, we should also not hesitate to learn, to learn from each other, from the countries that did it first. It is also something good for us and the government at the regional level,” AHY said.

Nevertheless, AHY claimed, it lacked authority regarding the establishment of such a special body. To that end, AHY will report and provide input to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on the establishment of the special body.

“Of course I will report and provide input as aides to the president have an obligation, asked or unsolicited, to provide good input. Because the spirit is that we become more focused, serious, and have the capacity to deal with a wide range of water issues,” AHY said.

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