Home Affairs Minister Issues Circular on Drought Anticipation
Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo. (Photo by: Secretariat Cabinet)
Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, in Circular Number 365/7309/SJ dated 1 August 2019, called on all regional heads (governors) to maintain water supply in anticipating dry season and drought.
“In a bid to implement directives of the President in a Limited Meeting on Anticipation of Drought which was attended by Working Cabinet Ministers, we urged all governors to take some measures to anticipate the impact of drought,” Tjahjo stated in the Circular.
The measures are, among others:
- Governors must make short-, medium-, and long-term planning to maintain water supply in anticipating drought in their respective regions.
- Governors must anticipate wildfires as the impact of drought by enhancing coordination with the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) in their respective regions since most of wildfires were started by humans at their own intentions;
- Governors set regular budget in the City Working Plan (RKPD) and Mid-term Regional Development Plan (RPJMD) of their Regional Budget (APBD) to fund the anticipation of wildfires according to the provisions of laws and regulations.
The Minister went on to say that based on Article 91 of Law Number 23 of 2014 on Regional Governments, the President is assisted by governors in monitoring and fostering government affairs in regencies/cities. The governors must also report their tasks and authorities as the representatives of the Central Government to the President through Minister of Home Affairs.
In respect of that provision, the Governors will monitor and foster their respective regions in anticipating the impact of drought and they must report it to the Minister of Home Affairs and the Ministry’s Director General of Regional Administration. (Ministry of Home Affairs/ES)
Translated by : Rany Anjany Subachrum
Edited by : Mia Medyana Bonaedy
