Thousands of Batam residents demand resolution to 12-year-long clean water issue, threatening to boycott local elections and occupy reservoirs.
In a bold demonstration of frustration, thousands of residents from Batam, Riau Islands, rallied on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, protesting against a prolonged clean water crisis that has affected them for over a decade. The protesters, from Perumahan Putra Jaya in Batu Aji, threatened to boycott the upcoming local elections and occupy nearby reservoirs unless the government fulfills its long-standing promises to resolve the water supply issues.
Residents of Batam have struggled with unreliable water supply since 2012, with the situation recently escalating into threats of political retaliation against the local government. The city, lacking groundwater resources, relies entirely on a piped water system fed by six rainwater reservoirs—Waduk Nongsa, Sei Harapan, Sei Ladi, Mukakuning, Tembesi, and Duriangkang.
Suwarni, a local resident, highlighted the economic burden of the water crisis, noting that her family spends over Rp 1 million monthly on water alone, due to the unreliability of the piped water system which costs them an additional Rp 60,000 monthly without providing consistent service.
Susilawati noted that, between 2012 and 2020, water was only available at night and merely trickled during the day. The situation worsened after management transitioned to PT Moya Indonesia in late 2020, leading to even less reliable water service.
Residents reported significant impacts on their hygiene and health due to the water shortage, with children frequently experiencing skin irritations and overall cleanliness suffering greatly.
Read More: Residents Call Batam Government Dishonest During Protest
During the protest, Batam Mayor and head of BP Batam, Muhammad Rudi, responded by stating the government’s commitment to resolving the issue, a claim met with skepticism and labeled as dishonest by the demonstrators. PT ABH’s director, Mujiaman Sukirno, acknowledged the challenges and outlined current mitigations which only partially address the water supply during nighttime hours.
The protest underscores a critical infrastructure crisis in Batam, with residents expressing profound dissatisfaction with perennial governmental promises unmet. The escalation to threats of election boycotts and physical occupation of water infrastructure signifies a tipping point, compelling urgent and effective governmental action to restore public trust and ensure access to essential services.
Thousands of Batam residents protested against a chronic water crisis, threatening to boycott elections and occupy water reservoirs if solutions are not implemented. The demonstration highlights severe public grievances regarding unreliable water supply and unfulfilled government promises, calling for immediate and sustained action to address the essential needs of the community.
Source: Kompas.id (2024)
