Puan Warns Government to Be Alert for Clean Water to Face Drought

JAKARTA - House of Representatives (DPR) Chair Puan Maharani asked the Government to prepare anticipatory steps following the prediction of a longer dry season in 2026. Starting from the need for clean water, to mitigating the impact of drought in the agricultural and public health sectors.

"The increasingly widespread drought must be immediately dealt with by strategic steps to minimize the impact in various sectors. Moreover, people in a number of areas are already experiencing a clean water crisis," Puan told reporters, Monday, June 15.

For information, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that at least three districts on the island of Java experienced a clean water crisis, namely in Cilacap Regency, Central Java, as well as Karawang Regency and Bogor Regency in West Java.

Due to drought, a total of more than 1,600 residents were affected by the reduced availability of clean water. In this regard, Puan asked the Government not only to distribute clean water assistance but also to prepare long-term infrastructure.

"For drought-prone areas, there must be mitigation at the upstream and downstream levels, such as harvesting rainwater (rainwater harvesting) and making infiltration wells," he said.

In addition, Puan also encourages the Government to intensify socialization to the public about steps to overcome drought. Including to farmers because the water crisis usually has a significant impact on the agricultural sector.

"Related agencies, including the Regional Government together with farmers' groups must sit down to discuss and find the most appropriate approach because each region is not necessarily the same challenge," explained Puan.

According to Puan, anticipation steps must be taken as early as possible considering that BMKG has predicted that this year's dry season will be longer so that the potential for drought that occurs will be more widespread. The longer drought is caused by the El Nino phenomenon.

BMKG predicts that the dry season can last up to 7 months in most parts of Indonesia and has the potential to trigger drought and water crises. The peak of the drought is expected to occur in August 2026.

In addition to drought, long droughts also cause forest and land fires (karhutla) to spread. For this reason, Puan asked the Government to prepare various efforts to overcome the impact of drought and karhutla.

"BMKG data should not stop as sectoral information, but must be the basis for the preparation of anticipatory steps in the fields of food, public health, water resources management, social protection and the environment, especially for vulnerable groups," he said.

Puan also assessed that information about the weather must be translated into measurable mitigation steps before the impact is felt by the community. Because according to him, the success of the State in facing the dry season cannot be measured only from the ability to respond when forest fires, water crises, or health disorders have occurred.

"The more important measure is how far these risks can be suppressed before they develop into a crisis that burdens society and the state's finances," said the former Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs.

Therefore, Puan emphasized the need for cross-agency/ministry coordination based on the same risk scenario. He assessed that climate predictions available months before the peak of the drought were an opportunity for the State to demonstrate a more preventive governance capacity.

"The public needs to be convinced that every decision made by the Government is based on careful risk planning," he added.

Puan also asked that every local government be on alert to move when residents affected by drought and forest fires need assistance. Especially for people living in disaster-prone areas.

"Anticipation steps must be accompanied by the fulfillment of assistance to the community who are in difficulty due to drought and those affected by karhutla," he concluded.