0 Say no to Aqua producer: Customary Village

Representatives from the customary village of Peladung in Karangasem have strongly urged their regional administration to revoke a drilling permit granted to PT Tirta Investama, producer of Aqua bottled water, to explore and to drill for groundwater in their village. I Wayan Suarjana and several other village residents were visiting the headquarters of the Bali office of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) in Denpasar on Monday afternoon. 

“We have already submitted a letter of refusal against the regent’s decision to issue the permit on Jan. 8, but until today [Monday], the regent [Karangasem Regent I Wayan Geredeg] has not yet responded to our letter,” Suarjana said. On Dec.9, 2012, the community of Peladung village met and decided that the groundwater exploration by the company must be stopped. The Aqua producer has already explored for water from two 100-meter drilling points near the village’s subak farms since November 2012. 

The drilling points are located close to the regency’s most important water resources and springs, including the famous Tirta Gangga spring, Yeh Ketupat, Ababi and Tauka natural reservoirs. Walhi’s chairman I Wayan “Gendo” Suardana commented that the privatization of water resources was against the Constitution.

source : bali daily