Jakarta (ANTARA) - Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo has announced plans to form a special task force to mitigate the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon.
"Specifically for El Niño, I will establish a dedicated task force to handle it in the 2026–2027 period," he said during the Infratalks event in Jakarta on Friday.
According to him, the task force is crucial because the potential drought triggered by the phenomenon—which is marked by rising temperatures—will impact more than just irrigation systems and farmlands cut off from water supplies.
Some water supply systems and reservoirs across several regions are also expected to face severe water shortages during the El Niño period.
"I see a pressing need for a special task force. We must preempt and prepare for El Niño from the very outset," he explained.
The Ministry of Public Works has actually already begun early mitigation efforts, starting with drilling deep wells in historically drought-prone areas across Indonesia, such as Gunung Kidul in Yogyakarta, since the beginning of the year.
"I have now asked the Directorate General of Water Resources to go a step further. In addition to deep-well drilling, I am mandating the construction of tertiary irrigation networks, specifically for water meant for agricultural fields and plantations," he remarked.
The minister underscored that these tertiary irrigation networks are critical for ensuring that water usage for farming is both highly effective and efficient.
"With tertiary irrigation, we can ensure that the water flows effectively and efficiently to even the most remote fields. This also promotes water conservation, preserving resources for our future generations," he explained.
Minister Hanggodo previously stated that the government is maximizing water levels in reservoirs nationwide, a move aimed at countering the impacts of an extreme El Niño phenomenon and safeguarding national food security.
He affirmed that mitigation measures against the impacts of El Niño have been underway for some time, executed through integrated water resource management across various regions with major dams.
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Translator: Suharsana Aji, Raka Adji Editor: Azis Kurmala Copyright © ANTARA 2026
Read the full article at Antara News →📄Source document: Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo
2 reports
Antara NewsState / PublicCenter2 days agoIndonesia's Public Works Minister, Dody Hanggodo, has announced the formation of a special task force to address the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon during the 2026–2027 period. The task force aims to mitigate potential drought effects, including water shortages in various regions. Early mitigation efforts include drilling deep wells in drought-prone areas like Gunung Kidul in Yogyakarta and constructing tertiary irrigation networks for agriculture.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information regarding the formation of a task force and mitigation strategies without overtly favoring any political side. It quotes the Public Works Minister directly and outlines specific actions being taken, maintaining neutrality in tone and content.
Official sources cited
- government Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo
Antara NewsState / PublicCenter3 days ago Minister urges strict action against land clearing by burningIndonesia's Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni called for strict enforcement against land clearing via burning during a press conference addressing the 2026 Special Coordination Meeting on Forest and Land Fire Mitigation. He cited the ongoing El Niño phenomenon as a contributing factor to increased fire risks. According to data provided, 81,000 hectares of land had been affected by fires as of May 2026. The minister emphasized that El Niño is expected to reach its peak in July, prompting coordinated mitigation efforts between the central and regional governments.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a straightforward report of the minister's call for stricter enforcement against illegal land-clearing practices. It includes direct quotes from the minister and provides factual information regarding the impact of El Niño and the extent of land affected by fires. There is no明显的
Official sources cited
- government Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni
- government Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG)
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