I call on all the people to help monitor (the taking over process) because water in the capital city cannot be enjoyed by all as there is a party monopolizing water management access and refusing to cooperate with the government
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan has said the capital city's tap water management team visited the headquarters of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to get legal advices on a plan to take over clean water supply management from private companies.

"The point is that we went to KPK to obtain legal advices to ensure that we will take the right steps ahead, and the taking over of water management by the (Jakarta) administration from the private companies will be in line with the existing laws," Baswedan said on Saturday evening.

The Governor wanted to make sure that the move will benefit the public and not inflict a loss on the state.

Since 1917, the tap water supply for Jakartans has been managed by private companies, The tap water supply coverage in Jakarta in 1917 was only 45 percent, and it increased to 60 percent in 2019.

PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja) and PT Aetra Air Jakarta, the two private companies managing the clean water supply in Jakarta, have increased the coverage by 15 percent only.

Based on the agreement, the private companies were expected to raise the coverage to 80 percent within 25 years, but they have failed to meet the target.

"Hence, we believe that after taking over the management, the Government will invest in pipe procurement particularly for kampongs where low-income people live," the governor said.

The team wants to make sure that they will take the right legal process toward ending the water privatization in Jakarta.

"On Monday, we will get complete update (about the meeting with KPK)," he said, adding that the team went to the KPK Headquarters was at its own initiative.

He noted that PT Aetra has been cooperative so far, and hoped that PT Palyja will also be cooperative in handing over the clean water supply management to the Jakarta administration-owned clean water supply company PT PAM Jaya.

"I call on all the people to help monitor (the taking over process) because water in the capital city cannot be enjoyed by all as there is a party monopolizing water management access and refusing to cooperate with the government," the Governor said.

Translator: Susylo A, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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