Minister Jonan Urges People to Care More about Environmental Issues

MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES

REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

PRESS RELEASE

NUMBER: 621.Pers/04/SJI/2019

Dated: 17th October 2019

Minister Jonan Urges People to Care More about Environmental Issues

The overexploitation of groundwater is one of contributing factors to declining water table which leads to land subsidence. Groundwater should be used more responsibly by considering the surrounding environment. The groundwater issue should be taken as a common problem that calls for the attention of all people, not just the government.

"The groundwater issue is a common problem. The studies that have been conducted should be published so that public awareness improves," said Ignasius Jonan when visiting the Groundwater Conservation Office, North Jakarta, Thursday (17/10).

To prove the government's concern about environmental issues, the Ministry of EMR through its Geological Agency has carried out groundwater monitoring. The monitoring is conducted by the Groundwater Conservation Office, especially to areas that have the potential for groundwater basin, in order to find out any damage inflicted, in terms of quality and quantity. The monitoring is essential to discover any changes that occur after the continuous extraction of groundwater in a very long period.

"Through this Groundwater Conservation Office, we can find out what damage occurs to the groundwater, both in quality and in quantity. In terms of quality, we can look at the pollution level, while in terms of quantity we can examine the water discharge," said Head of Center for Groundwater and Environmental Geology of the Geological Agency, Andiani, when showing Minister Jonan the way at the Office.

The monitoring results of the Office is presented in a Map of Groundwater Conservation, which illustrates the quality and quantity of groundwater at a certain level in the ground. Based on this information, a Technical Recommendation (RekTek) can be issued in reply to an application for groundwater extraction permit from relevant agencies.

"Within Jakarta Province area, for example, the authority to grant the permit rests with the governor or the provincial government. However, it is within our authority to issue a technical recommendation because Jakarta area belongs to an inter-provincial Groundwater Basin," Andiani concluded. (YAK)

Head of Bureau of Communication, Public Information Services, and Cooperation

Agung Pribadi (081122135)

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