Indonesia Calls on G20 to Strengthen Cooperation in Water Resources Management Amid Pandemic
Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono in a virtual meeting with Ministers of Agriculture and Natural Resources of G20 countries, Saturday (12/9). (Photo by: Ministry of PUPR).
Indonesian Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono has called on G20 countries to strengthen cooperation in water resources management and agriculture amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Basuki, his Ministry is committed to playing an active role in realizing sustainable water availability and management of sanitation and environmental health through a host of programs amid the pandemic.
The first program related to water and agricultural management currently implemented with Ministry of Agriculture, Basuki continued, is the development of a food estate on around 165,000 hectares in the ex-peatland development area in Central Kalimantan province.
“The project aims to anticipate drought and food crises in the future,” he said during a virtual meeting of Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources of G20 countries, Saturday (12/9).
The second program is risk mitigation of flood disasters, he added.
“Indonesia was hit by floods this year, causing serious damages to a number of buildings,” he said.
Therefore, in a bid to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, Basuki said the Ministry continues to push for realization of the 100-0-100 program, namely 100 percent universal access to drinking water, 0 percent to slum areas, and 100 percent access to adequate sanitation.
Basuki also pointed out that a number of water resources infrastructure targets will be continued by adhering to health protocols given that it takes support for water security in achieving food security programs.
“Infrastructure development of water resources includes construction of 61 dams during the span of 2020-2024, rehabilitation of 2.5 million hectares of irrigation, construction of 500 thousand hectares of new irrigation networks, construction of 2,000 kilometers of flood control and coastal protection,” he said.
Furthermore, he said the G20 countries Ministerial Meeting of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management this year will be focus on discussing the impact of food security and the importance of clean water, sanitation, and waste management amid the pandemic.
G20 is a group of countries that play a role in facing the economic crisis in global financial governance. Indonesia has been a member of the G20 since its establishment in 1999. (BKP Ministry of PUPR/EN)
Translator: Muhardi
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas
