VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The government is striving to manage sufficient and sustainable utilization of clean water through various programs, including by building 61 dams during the 2015-2025 period, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin stated.

Amin conveyed the statement in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province, on Monday, while opening the 2nd Asia International Water Week (AIWW) organized by the Asia Water Council (AWC) in collaboration with the Indonesian Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Ministry.

"We will continue to optimize the potential of water for the development of hydropower and floating solar plant to produce clean energy," he remarked.

The government also establishes irrigation facilities and one thousand retention basins to realize national food security.

"In addition, we encourage integrated sustainable water management and the improvement of access to clean water for households," he stated.

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) recorded that access to clean water only covered 68 percent of the total households, with the coverage increasing to 90 percent in 2020.

Furthermore, Amin noted that although water covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface, only about 13 percent of the total water is found on land and can be used to meet the water requirements of more than seven billion people around the world.

About two-thirds of the world's population experienced water scarcity at least for a month every year. Meanwhile, more than two billion people live in countries with insufficient water supply.

It is estimated that by 2025, half of the world's population will experience water scarcity and by 2030, around 700 million people will be displaced due to water scarcity.

The Asia-Pacific region only holds 36 percent of the world's total water resources, so the region has the lowest water availability per capita in the world.

Moreover, it is projected that groundwater use will increase by 30 percent by 2050.

The problem is worsened by high levels of water pollution, as more than 80 percent of the wastewater generated in developing countries is unmanaged.

Another crucial issue is the unsustainable extraction of fresh water. More than half of the total available fresh water has been extracted.

In addition to the vice president, Coordinating Minister for the Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian, Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, as well as Deputy Governor of NTT Josef Nae Soi attended the event.

Furthermore, President of the Asia Water Council Jae Hyeon Park and former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon were present.  (Antaranews)