Gov’t Strengthens Drought Response in 492 Locations Across Indonesia
The Government continues to strengthen the strategy for managing the impacts of El Niño and dry season in Indonesia to maintain water availability for people and agricultural sector. Up to August 5, 2026, the Government through the Ministry of Public Works has performed drought response in 492 locations across Indonesia.
Out of 492 locations, a total of 105 locations is rice field with an area of 22,210 hectares that is managed to maintain agricultural productivity. Meanwhile, 387 locations are residential areas, serving clean water necessity for 155,228 people. Out of the total number of locations, 442 locations have been addressed, and 50 are still in progress.
Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo said that water serves as an essential foundation for sustainable development so that drought response should be carried out rapidly, measurably, and in an integrated manner.
“Amid the world that is always changing and full of uncertainty, water serves as an essential foundation for sustainable development. Therefore, drought response should be carried out rapidly, measurably, and in an integrated manner to meet water needs for the people and to maintain agricultural productivity,” Dody said as quoted from the webpage of Ministry of Public Works on Friday (8/7).
The response was carried out through various emergency steps for both agricultural and residential sectors. In the agricultural sector, the efforts include water pumping from rivers to rice field areas, normalization of primary and secondary irrigation canals, repair of tertiary canals, sandbag installation, canals optimization, and water diversion pipes installation.
Moreover, management for residential areas is focused on clean water distribution using tanker truck, drilled well construction, pipeline network connection, as well as potential water sources assessment. The Government has also prepared equipment, mobile pumps, water tanker fleets, and Ministry of Public Works office units across Indonesia on standby to ensure rapid response in accordance with field requirements.
Besides emergency response, Ministry of Public Works continues to monitor the condition of water resources and arrangement of dam operations adaptively to maintain the raw water availability, irrigation, and people needs during dry season.
As part of the strategy, the Government also utilizes Weather Modification Operation in certain condition. One of them was conducted at the Jatiluhur dam on July 30, 2026 as an additional mitigation action to maintain the water availability in the dam service areas. (Public Relations of the Ministry of Public Works – Public Relations of the Ministry of State Secretariat) (JAS/LW)
