The water, which should be controlled by the state and used as much as possible for the prosperity of the people, is instead controlled by these syndicates and is exploited to make the poor suffer even more.
By
KOMPAS EDITOR
·3 minutes read
KOMPAS/IRENE SARWINDANINGRUM
WY (57), a resident of Kapuk Muara, North Jakarta, shows the names of the perpetrators who demanded payments of tens of millions of rupiah for the illegal installation of piped water. Later he felt cheated because the entire channel was removed even though he had paid a lot.
The Constitution mandates that the Earth, water and natural resources contained therein are controlled by the state. However, our natural resources are still being controlled by so-called mafias, or syndicates.
An investigation by Kompas last week found that the water mafia is still operating freely and taking advantage of the lack of access to clean water facilities for poor people living in slums or illegal settlements in Jakarta.
Realizing the huge demand for clean water, these water mafias offer illegal water pipe connections and sell the water to them at exorbitant prices that are much higher than the Rp 40,000 (US$2.75) per cubic meter charged on five-star hotels by state-owned tap water company PAM Jaya. In fact, the company charges low-income households only Rp 3,500 per cbm.
Kompas found 121 illegal water pipe connections in Penjaringan and Cilincing, North Jakarta. These two areas are known as the areas with the highest level of tap water theft in Jakarta. According to residents, the perpetrators involved a group of people in uniforms resembling PAM Jaya officers, who also drove a car similar to the company’s official vehicle. This practice is also suspected to involve the heads of local subdistricts.
This fact really hurts our conscience. The water, which should be controlled by the state and used as much as possible for the prosperity of the people, is instead controlled by these syndicates and is exploited to make the poor suffer even more.
KOMPAS / ANDY RIZA HIDAYAT
A resident of RW 05, Kapuk Muara Village, Penjaringan Subdistrict, North Jakarta, shows a water pipe confiscated from a gang of water thieves, Saturday (22/05/2021). Local residents confiscated the pipe because of the piped water crisis there.
This phenomenon also indicates that as a nation, we haven’t done much. Why not? Fifty-two years ago, a news report published in Kompas daily on July 15, 1969, described the same thing. The article was titled “Actions to Deal with Drinking Water Parasites”. The page-one story was about the involvement of many “parasites” in the operation of pipe water facilities in Jakarta. They operated both in big and small groups of people. They tapped water through pipelines to drums that were then transported by trucks.
The activities of the water mafia, which has been going on for decades and has made the people suffer, especially the poor, should be stopped. The police must investigate this matter thoroughly because it will not be difficult to reveal the water syndicate if there is a will to do so. Anyone involved should be severely punished, including public officials.
Under Article 68 of Law No. 17/2019 concerning water resources, anyone who intentionally carries out activities that cause damage to water sources and their supporting facilities should be punished with between three years’ and a nine years’ imprisonment and made to pay a fine of between Rp 5 billion (US$351,597) and Rp 15 billion.
Both central and local governments also need to ensure the availability of clean water for citizens without exception because water is a basic need. Currently, the Jakarta government through PAM Jaya has provided a temporary solution with the operation of water kiosks in 21 priority areas. However, these efforts are not sufficient due to their limited distribution capacities.
There should be legal enforcement to deter the water mafias and give them no opportunities to profit from the poor.
This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.
