Letter: Water supply in Kupang

Thu, 09/25/2008 9:33 AM | Reader's Forum

I would like to comment on your article titled “Thousands affected by water shortage in East Nusa Tenggara”, (The Jakarta Post, Sept. 21).

A shortage of water has been plaguing Kupang, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara, and the surrounding area for several years. Although several studies have been undertaken and subsequent plans have been drawn up to solve the problem, the government has been unable to implement these. The Japanese government through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) funded the construction of a large lake to the east of Kupang with the main objective to provide potable water to the city.

However, connecting the lake to Kupang by pipes (the fiscal and physical responsibility of the government under the agreement with JBIC) was never completed, and the lake is now used for a recreation facility.

The construction of the lake has also affected the irrigation of its down-stream areas as the lake’s dam blocks the run of the river. Water for irrigation is only available at the height of the rainy season (when the dam spills over), when it is least required by farmers. For many years city-owned water company PDAM in Kupang has not been able to provide services although people connected to its mainly empty pipes have to pay monthly fees just to be connected.

The government now pumps water from highly polluted rivers and other sources which is sold to tankers which is then resold to the public at exorbitant prices. Every tanker owner makes a lot of money. The business is run by a certain well-connected group. Adding insult to injury, electricity supplied by state-owned PLN to Kupang and its surroundings is now also bad.

HENRY MANOE
Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara

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