Two-Thirds Of indonesia's Water Utilities in Poor Financial Conditions

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan, Dec 3 (Antara) - Most of Indonesia`s state-owned water utilities are in an unhealthy condition, an official from the Association of Indonesian Drinking Water Companies (PERPAMSI) stated on Tuesday. Around 75 percent of the country`s 412 drinking water companies were grappling with poor financial conditions, Muslih, the Deputy Chairman of PERPAMSI, pointed out. He suggested that to deal with the problem a synergy among the central government, in this case the Public Works Ministry, and the local governments at the provincial, district and municipality administration levels must be created. Political will is crucial for the improvement of the public utilities` condition, Muslih, who is currently the Director of the Banjarmasin drinking water company, said. Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto had stated recently that the government would boost the performance of the National Water Resources Council to help meet the MDG target of 68 percent clean water supply. The country's clean water supply coverage is currently pegged at 55 percent. Adequate water supply is important to boost rice production, which is a part of the national food resilience program. According to Minister Kirmanto, the government was targeting a rice production surplus of 10 million by 2014, arid land rehabilitation at 2.5 million hectares and hydroelectric renewable energy. For these purposes, the Indonesian government will also improve the infrastructure and facilities needed for clean water supply and repair the irrigation system, National Development Planning Minister Armida Alisjahbana revealed. Coordination between the central and regional governments must be intensified for the improvement of clean water supply infrastructure and irrigation system, the minister, who is concurrently the head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), had stated in Jakarta on January 31 earlier this year. "The target is to increase the clean water pipe network to 68 percent by 2015. At present it is at 55 percent, so there is a gap of 13 percent that we have to cover," she said. A total budget amounting to Rp65.27 trillion, which comprises of Rp12 trillion allocated by the government and Rp53.27 trillion contributed by investors, is needed to achieve the target of 68.87 percent in clean water supply coverage.