A Political Ecology of the Citarum River Basin: Exploring "Integrated Water Resources Management" in West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Over the past twenty years, the Indonesian government and international development agencies have ranked the Citarum River among the most polluted rivers in the world. Pollution, flooding, sedimentation, deforestation and over-pumping of ground water, combined with inadequate policy enforcement and poor coordination between government agencies are compromising Indonesian livelihoods. In 2007, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) loaned Indonesia $500 million to implement “Integrated Water Resources Management” (IWRM) as a “best practices” management intervention to solve the “crisis” by “making decisions at the lowest appropriate level.” To appraise IWRM success, this paper explores, (1) historical trajectories leading to water privatization measures and IWRM; (2) integration of “local ground realities” during West Tarum Canal (WTC) project implementation by IWRM managers; (3) which “local ground realities” implementers must consider as IWRM enters the peri-urban village of Sukamaju. Methodologically, I draw upon IWRM literature, Global Water Partnership’s (GWP) IWRM-ToolBox, Dublin Principle II, ADB planning documents, a two-month water pollution field investigation in Sukamaju, and personal interviews of residents, management officials, and government leaders. Lower basin findings show failures to effectively resettle and compensate residents. Upper basin findings reveal a complex water pollution problem entangled in livelihood and policy contradictions, leading to persistent pollution. My findings demonstrate that IWRM rhetoric borrows heavily from Dublin Principle II and GWP, and that IWRM management practices are inadequately informed by local realities. This investigation aims to aid implementers by critiquing past failures so that project officials can address future challenges as IWRM makes its way throughout Indonesia.