The fragile springs, unnoticed: lessons from water policy in dry islands of Flores Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract The Indonesian government has maintained the SDGs’ priorities by establishing targets and projects. This paper examines the way how programs and targets are designed and implemented by considering the reality of community-based water management (CBWM) on the ground. Using Critical Institutional Analysis Framework (CIAD), this study analyzes the actual CBWM particularly by taking in depth interviews with the representation of community members in 6 villages of dry-land area in the northern part of Manggarai District, East Nusa Tenggara Province. The study also undertakes the spatial analysis of the springs area. The analysis on site will be complemented by a portrait of bigger context in the political economy analysis of district and country. The finding indicates that although most land use and water policies have some formulation to protect water sources, including springs, the CBWM are detached from policy agenda. Without direct support to CBWM, the water policy is weak to challenge land use changes including the mining policies from the past and the current trend for commodity expansion. The study suggests that the water policies have to deal with mining policies if the jurisdiction is willing to indicate the water priority of the area. Moreover, the protection for the springs should not be relying on community-based institutions alone. The policies have to be there to enable the water institutions to anticipate the pressures on the springs.