Minister Basuki: Irrigation Water Reserves Face El Nino 2.9 Billion Kubik

Minister of PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono. (Antaranews)

JAKARTA - Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimoeljono said Indonesia still stores water supplies of around 2.9 billion cubic meters for agricultural irrigation needs amid the El Nino phenomenon.

This was said by Minister Basuki after attending the agenda of a limited meeting mitigating the impact of the El Nino phenomenon led by President Joko Widodo.

"If I report it earlier, there is still 2.9 billion water for 81 percent irrigation", said Basuki at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday, October 3, which was confiscated by Antara.

Basuki ensured that 770 thousand hectares of agricultural land in Indonesia could still be flowed by water from the surrounding dams.

"Usually dry ones are in urban areas. The irrigation ones are still safe," he said.

The water supply is supplied from 3,464 reservoirs around irrigation areas. Other sources are supplied from 332 sets, 8,213 wells for agricultural irrigation purposes.

"From that point of view, it is still safe," he said.

On that occasion, Basuki ensured that the activities of the Hydroelectric Power Plant (PLTA) in Indonesia were not affected by drought and were still operating normally.

"Because there are priorities, especially in the dam, because the hydropower plant is not in the reservoirs, but in the dams," he said.

When asked about the drought-hit area, Basuki said information from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) that the situation was detected in the southern equator.

Regarding a number of agricultural land hit by drought, Basuki ensured that his condition was still relatively safe, because rain was forecasted to flush the land in November 2023.

"Safe. November there will be rain," he said.