Govt tackles drought in 492 areas amid El Nino impact

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Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Ministry of Public Works is addressing droughts in 492 locations across the nation amid the ongoing El Nino weather phenomenon.

Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo underscored the need for swift, targeted, and integrated drought response to ensure uninterrupted public water supplies and safeguard agricultural productivity.

“In a rapidly changing and uncertain world, water serves as a vital foundation for sustainable development,” Hanggodo said in Jakarta on Friday.

To maintain the water availability for public needs and the agricultural sector during the dry season, the Ministry has taken various measures, including emergency response, adaptive water resource management, and strengthened coordination between central and regional governments.

As of Wednesday (August 5), the Ministry has responded to drought conditions at 492 locations across Indonesia. This includes 105 agricultural sites, which saved 22,210 hectares of rice fields, and 387 residential areas, providing access to clean water for 155,228 people. Of the 492 locations, work has been completed at 442 sites, while 50 remain underway.

The operations cover 31 locations in Sumatra, safeguarding 177 hectares of rice fields and supplying clean water to 3,368 residents, as well as 305 locations in Java, covering 12,875 hectares of rice fields and serving 125,540 people.

Meanwhile, in Kalimantan, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara, the efforts covered 81 locations across 801 hectares of rice fields, with 15,900 residents receiving access to clean water.

Furthermore, 49 locations in Sulawesi were targeted, protecting 7,799 hectares of rice fields and serving 7,153 residents.

Additionally, in Maluku, North Maluku, and Papua, operations covered 10 locations, protecting 618 hectares of rice fields and providing clean water to 3,267 residents.

Earlier, the Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) stated the 2026 El Nino has intensified to a strong level and may escalate to very strong, threatening to trigger longer and drier droughts across parts of Indonesia.