Director General Of Natural Resources Reveals Two Main Challenges To Water Resources

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works (PU) said, there are two challenges in the field of water resources that must be faced.

This was conveyed by the Director General of Water Resources at the Ministry of Public Works Bob Arthur Lombgia at the Launching Corporate University and Smart ASN of the Ministry of Public Works at the Public Works Ministry Auditorium, Jakarta, Monday, December 9.

"We need to inform you in this forum that there are two challenges that we face in the field of water resources. First, population growth and then the second climate change," he said.

Bob assessed that the combination of these two problems will cause the challenges in the future to become more difficult. "On the one hand, the population is increasing for a long time. Indonesia is now 278 million people with growth of 0.8 percent per year, later in 2024 it will be 281 million," said Bob.

On the one hand, said Bob, this resident exploits the land and causes water spaces to be used. "So, in the future we have to innovate in making water reservoirs," he said.

Furthermore, Bob explained that the water reserves in Indonesia are currently far behind from neighboring countries.

He said the reservoir or dam in Indonesia was only able to produce 59.59 cubic meters per capita/year. The target must be achieved in 2030 is about 120 cubic meters.

"Currently, our (water reserves) are still far below Thailand and the Philippines. Thailand is already 1,000 (cubic meters), then Malaysia is 700 cubic meters per capita/year," he said.

Therefore, Bob appealed to PU personnel to develop potential in innovating in facing challenges in the future.

"This challenge is a reality that we must face together, but also an opportunity to create innovations and solutions that will help us overcome challenges in the future," he concluded.