Decision of Indonesia's water agency up to next government: Ministry

Badung, Bali (ANTARA) - The decision to establish an agency tasked with handling water-related issues will be in the domain of the next government, according to an Indonesian official.

"I believe that the format of the planned agency is still under discussion," said Endra S. Atmawidjaja, an expert staff member at the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR).

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the 10th World Water Forum in Bali on Thursday, he noted that collaboration across different disciplines and sectors is needed to deal with water issues.

Aside from the Ministry of PUPR, the responsibility to address issues concerning water lies with other ministries such as the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

The idea to establish a water agency could be translated into reality, but it would depend on the next government's commitment to handling water issues, Atmawidjaja added. "I think that the idea (of the agency's establishment) is viable. However, it will depend on the way our new president looks at water issues," he stated.

Earlier, Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono said that an agency dedicated to managing water could play a vital role in integrating and synchronizing water management.

Baca juga: Kemen PUPR: WWF di Bali hadirkan solusi bagi krisis air - iklim
Baca juga: Govt offers Rp10 billion incentive for good water management: Ministry

He introduced the idea of establishing the agency during a forum that brought together local and regional governments, which was held as part of the 10th World Water Forum. He said that the water agency would be expected to serve as a major platform for Indonesia to tidy up its management of water in anticipation of a water crisis.

However, he noted that the establishment of the agency still remains an idea, and he lacks the authority to pursue it.