August 23, 2026 | 11:18 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Ministry of Public Works (PU) stated that it had addressed 1,229 drought-affected locations across various regions of Indonesia as of August 21, 2026. These locations spanned the agricultural and residential sectors, as well as areas affected by forest and land fires.
Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo stated that water availability is a crucial foundation for maintaining sustainable development, particularly in the agricultural sector, which relies heavily on a reliable water supply. "Quality water services are the backbone of economic, social, and environmental development, especially for regions facing limited water resources and the impacts of climate change," he said in Jakarta on Saturday, August 22, 2026, as reported by Antara.
The Ministry of Public Works' Directorate General of Water Resources stated that efforts to address the drought impacts caused by El Niño are being continuously intensified. Records show that 1,072 locations have been successfully addressed, while 157 others are still being handled.
Of the total locations, drought mitigation efforts covered 157 rice field sites, 931 residential areas, and 141 locations affected by forest and land fires. These interventions helped save approximately 41,252 hectares of rice fields and provided clean water to 616,033 people.
In the agricultural sector, various measures were taken to keep rice fields productive amidst the threat of drought. Interventions included pumping water from rivers to rice fields, normalizing irrigation channels, constructing emergency channels, and optimizing water networks. Of the 157 rice field locations targeted, 124 have been completed.
Pumping water from rivers to rice fields was a primary method, implemented at 69 locations—accounting for approximately 43.9 percent of all interventions in the agricultural sector. Meanwhile, in residential areas, the Ministry of Public Works prioritized meeting basic community needs through clean water distribution; of the 931 locations addressed, 811 have been completed. Water distribution represents the primary response measure, covering 902 locations—or approximately 96.9 percent of all drought-related interventions in residential areas.
In addition, measures were taken to address the threat of forest and land fires. Interventions were carried out at 141 locations, with 137 successfully resolved through firefighting efforts. Regionally, Java accounted for the largest scope of operations, covering 728 locations.
Interventions in Java also benefited 26,346 hectares of rice fields and provided clean water services to 533,604 people. Through these measures, the Ministry of Public Works continues to mobilize available resources and infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of drought, ensure water availability for the public, and protect agricultural land to maintain food productivity.
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