Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono has outlined four pillars of water self-sufficiency to ensure adequate supplies for various needs.
"There are four pillars of water self-sufficiency. The first is water for the people. Everyone must have access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation, not only in urban areas but also in rural areas," Yudhoyono, popularly known as AHY, said in Jakarta on Thursday.
The second pillar is water for food, which requires reliable supplies of raw water and irrigation to support food self-sufficiency, he said.
The third pillar is water sustainability, which involves protecting water sources, controlling pollution, and strengthening climate resilience.
The fourth pillar is water data analytics, which involves using various databases and monitoring systems to support decision-making, AHY said.
"We must prevent disparities between regions. For example, during a particular season, one area may have no problems with clean water availability, while another may face a deficit," AHY said, adding that data analytics could help determine where water should be directed to address shortages.
He said President Prabowo Subianto had consistently emphasized the importance of providing clean water, particularly as Indonesia frequently faces climate-related challenges, including extreme weather.
AHY noted that the second point of Prabowo's Asta Cita agenda explicitly calls for national self-reliance, including self-sufficiency goals in food, energy, and water.
Water also plays a vital role in supporting food security and self-sufficiency, as well as energy self-sufficiency, he said.
AHY has described water security as economic security, saying it provides the foundation for sustainable economic growth.
He stressed that water management must be integrated, encompassing river basin health, raw water supplies and irrigation, drinking water and sanitation, flood control, coastal protection, and nature-based solutions.
This approach must go hand in hand with the development of resilient cities and infrastructure, he said.
AHY added that water-related challenges could not be addressed through isolated infrastructure projects alone. River pollution, sedimentation, flooding, land subsidence, and rising sea levels are interconnected problems that require cross-sectoral responses.
He therefore called for stronger collaboration among the government, businesses, financial institutions, academics, communities, and development partners to turn water security needs into tangible investments with measurable impacts.
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Translator: Bayu Prasetyo
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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