Ensure Clean Water Supply To Residents Affected By The Merbabu Fire

The fire burned Mount Merbabu land in Jlarem Village, Gladagsari, Boyolali, Central Java, (PHOTO: DOK. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The government must be able to ensure the supply of aid to the community, especially clean water related to forest and land fires in Gunung Merbabu National Park (TNGB) which resulted in 391 people being displaced.

"In an emergency like this, access to food and clean water supply is very important to ensure the comfort and health of the refugees," said DPR Speaker Puan Maharani, Monday, October 30.

As is known, forest and land fires in Gunung Merbabu National Park (TNGMb), Central Java, have gradually started to die out where fires have occurred since last Friday (27/10). Based on data from the TNGM Center, land forest fires reached 848.5 hectares.

The fires covered three areas, namely Semarang Regency, Boyolali Regency, and Magelang Regency. As a result of the fire, residential areas were also affected by smoke.

According to data from the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Semarang Regency, Central Java, as many as 391 residents of two villages were evacuated due to the impact of the Mount Merbabu fire. The two villages affected by forest and land fires occurred in Batur Village and Tabuk, Getasan, Semarang Regency.

"Make sure the basic needs of the community are not affected much, including food. Provide health services for those in need, and clean water must also be guaranteed for residents," said the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture.

Puan said access to clean water for residents was very important. This follows a fire, a clean water pipe on the slopes of Mount Merbabu was burned.

Like in Boyolali, clean water facilities for 2 villages in the Regency were affected by a fire where a 25-kilometer water pipe network was damaged by a fire in the Merbabu area. The pipeline network has been used to drain clean water from 4 sources on Mount Merbabu to Jlarem and Ngadirojo villages.

In addition, the Mongkrong residents' clean water pipe caught fire for about 3 kilometers because its position was not planted on the ground. Meanwhile, for the Magelang area, the clean water supply was stopped for 3 villages including Ifuan Village, Pogalan Village, and Genikan Village.

The forest fires in the Merbabu area have had a considerable impact on residents. We encourage the Government to quickly provide clean water assistance to affected residents," said Puan.

The legislator from the Central Java V electoral district reminded that residents also need assistance in repairing infrastructure damaged by the fire in Merbabu. Puan asked for an effective synergy between the Central Government and the Regional Government.

Damaged infrastructure improvements, including clean water pipelines, must be handled immediately. Do not let people have difficulty getting clean water for a long time," he said.

On the other hand, Puan asked the local government to be aware of the occurrence of fires in the Mount Merbabu area, especially for the area. Because the extreme hot weather has recently become a trigger for forest area fires.

"We are currently facing climate change which is quite extreme. Where the hot weather this year exceeded previous years and became a trigger for forest and land area fires," explained Puan.

"I also encourage the local government to be more responsive if they see the fire point and extinguish it quickly in collaboration with relevant stakeholders so that the spread of fires can be minimized so that residents are not more affected," continued Bung Karno's grandson.