Achieving Sustainable Development, DPD RI Member Emphasizes Integrated Water Management in the Special Region of Yogyakarta

13 October 2026 oleh admin

dpd.go.id — Water security is a strategic issue for the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) that directly impacts basic human rights, food security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. Therefore, water management must be an integral component of DIY’s development strategy rather than merely a sectoral program.

This statement was made by Member of the House of Regional Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPD RI), Dr. H. Hilmy Muhammad, M.A., during a working meeting themed "Water Security for Sustainable Development in DIY: Central and Regional Synergy in Ensuring Water Availability, Food Security, Tourism, and Mitigation of Flood and Drought Risks."

“Water is not merely a technical and infrastructure issue; it concerns the fundamental rights of the public, food security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. We must not wait for the community to experience a water crisis before taking action. Water security must be built through sustainable planning, prevention, and management,” stated the senator, affectionately known as Gus Hilmy, at the DPD RI DIY Building Auditorium on Tuesday (10/13/2026).

As a member of Committee II, which oversees Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), among other sectors, Gus Hilmy highlighted the drought issues in DIY following the Governor of DIY's emergency drought alert declaration from July 20 to September 30, 2026. The regional government distributed at least 6.043 million liters of clean water via 1,117 water tanker deliveries between July 4 and August 31, 2026. Deliveries were directed to several districts in Gunungkidul, Bantul, Kulon Progo, and Sleman Regencies, with Gunungkidul being one of the most vulnerable areas.

“Under these circumstances, tanker water distribution is vital for emergency response, but it must not become a recurring solution every dry season. A long-term strategy is required, including the construction of water storage facilities, tube wells, spring conservation, expansion of raw water networks, and mapping of villages that require clean water assistance annually so that interventions can be planned ahead of the dry season,” Gus Hilmy explained.

In addition to drought threats, Gus Hilmy raised awareness regarding seasonal flooding, emphasizing that it must be addressed comprehensively from upstream to downstream.

This includes sedimentation control, drainage capacity, spatial planning, and planned river maintenance equipped with early warning systems. Furthermore, the growth of the tourism sector which requires a reliable water supply, must be aligned with priorities in environmental conservation and water source protection, as seen in the case of the Payak Site in Piyungan, Bantul.

On the other hand, Gus Hilmy added, water availability in DIY serves as a crucial pillar for food security, supporting a total wetland base of 67,027 hectares and a rice production yield of 547.51 thousand tons in 2025. This demands impact-oriented irrigation rehabilitation to ensure water reaches farmers' fields effectively.

The working meeting was attended by the Serayu Opak River Basin Center (BBWSO); the DIY Department of Public Works, Housing, and Energy and Mineral Resources (DPUESDM); the DIY Tourism Office; the Acting Head of the DIY Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD); and the Department of Public Works, Housing, and Settlement Areas (DPUPRKP) representing Kulon Progo Regency, Sleman Regency, Gunungkidul Regency, Bantul Regency, and Yogyakarta City.

Responding to the meeting agenda, the Acting Head of BBWS Serayu Opak (BBWSO) outlined the budget allocation for water resources management in DIY Province, which totals IDR 108.88 billion. The allocation covers the construction of the Srandakan Groundsill along the Progo River to reduce riverbed degradation, flood control projects protecting the Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) area, flood management in Yogyakarta City, tube well construction for groundwater irrigation networks (JIAT) in the Sleman AAU area, the program for accelerating irrigation water management improvement (P3-TGAI), as well as emergency normalization and gabion installations at critical cliff points to mitigate destructive water force and flood risks in DIY.

"Through strategic infrastructure interventions ranging from flood control and irrigation network rehabilitation to tube wells and river basin management, we remain committed to building the nation and delivering concrete solutions to preserve water security and support sustainable development in DIY," stated Parlinggoman Simanungkalit, S.T., MPSDA.

A representative from DPUPRKP Gunungkidul noted that 12 districts (kapanewon) face potential drought crises during the 2026 dry season, with several areas severely impacted.

“Drought is concentrated in Tepus, Rongkop, and Panggang. Panggang experiences recurring droughts, while Purwosari is a vulnerable area requiring clean water assistance, specifically in the Giripurwo and Giricahyo sub-districts (kalurahan). This condition is exacerbated by approximately 359 natural lakes (telaga) that are not yet operating at optimal capacity,” revealed Sigit Swastono.

Furthermore, the Head of the Water Resources Division at DPUPRKP Gunungkidul explained that dredging is necessary to increase lake storage capacity, along with developing tube wells or village drinking water supply systems for areas not yet served by PDAM (local water utility). Drought management must be integrated across multi-sectoral strategic programs to ensure fair and equitable water distribution across all areas of DIY.

Beyond food security and disaster mitigation, water management plays a vital role in tourism by requiring a dependable water supply while protecting the environment in accordance with the 2026–2045 Regional Tourism Master Plan (RIPPARDA).

“We want tourism to grow and the local economy to thrive, but the public's right to clean water must remain protected,” said the Head of the D.I. Yogyakarta Tourism Office, Eling Priswanto, S.E., M.M.