TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama said that the Jakarta administration has planned to reorganize the City’s water resource management following a dispute between PT PAM Lyonnaie Jaya (Palyja) and PT Aetra Air Jakarta.

“That’s the solution so that Jakarta residents will have water,” Ahok said on Monday, March 30, 2015, at City Hall.

According to Ahok, the move was taken to anticipate the worst effect that might be resulted in from the legal proceeding faced by the two companies.

Earlier, the Central Jakarta District Court ruled in favor of the People’s Coalition against Jakarta Water Privatization (KMMSAJ) over the city’s water resource management. The panel of judges viewed that defendants, comprising the government, Palyja and Aetra, had violated the citizens’ right to water.

Since 1997, the Jakarta administration through PT Perusahaan Air Minum Jaya (PAM Jaya) had been working with two foreign companies to manage the city’s water resource. Palyja was given the right to manage water in West Jakarta, while Aetra was appointed to run water service in East Jakarta.

Ahok explained that the self-management system will be handled by two region-owned enterprises, PT Jakarta Propertindo and PT Pembangunan Jaya.

LINDA HAIRANI