Antara News·Indonesia·Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 06:45 AM UTC

Weather modification readied to ease Java dam water deficit: Ministry

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Harianto, Kenzu

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Public Works Minister Diana Kusumastuti said weather modification has been prepared to maintain water availability following deficits in Java Island's dams due to this year's prolonged dry season.

According to Kusumastuti, the reduced water volume in dams was a direct impact of the dry season caused by an extreme El Nino phenomenon, which has kept water supply falling in various regions.

"Dams shrink because of the dry season, right? Water issues and so on. For this, we hope rain can fall, perhaps later with weather modification," she confirmed here on Wednesday.

The Public Works Ministry is trying weather modification as one step to raise the chances of rain so water reserves in dams can be maintained, she said.

Besides short-term handling, the Ministry also began identifying needs for unfinished dam construction as part of planning the 2028 fiscal year program.

Kusumastuti said the 2027 allocation for dam construction was basically already available, while follow-up needs for 2028 will be prepared from now so implementation is not delayed.

She stressed that the identification of dam construction needs will be completed soon so priority projects can support water resource security amid rising drought risk from the dry season.

Regional Infrastructure Development Agency (BPIW) Head Adenan Rasyid said the government is also carrying out weather modification operations to add water supply in areas that need it.

In addition, the Ministry has drawn up reservoir operation patterns as a step in managing water availability at each dam.

Previously, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono said 36 percent of dams in Java Island were in water deficit due to drought from El Nino.

In addition, 62 of 119 districts and cities in Java were affected by the drought's impact on water availability, so the government prepared mitigation steps to maintain national water supply.

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