January 6, 2026 | 07:59 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has responded to public criticism regarding the Rp150 million price tag for bore wells being constructed in Sumatra's disaster-stricken regions. Many people consider the amount too expensive for a single well.
Abdul Muhari, Head of the BNPB Data Center, justified the expense. He explained that these are not ordinary wells used for single homes. Instead, they are large communal systems designed to supply water to entire villages and will provide hundreds of families.
"The well is intended to reach areas that are quite difficult. Sometimes it supplies water to more than 200 to 300 families in one location," said Abdul Muhari at the BNPB office in Jakarta on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
According to Abdul, the Rp150 million estimate is not a new figure. BNPB has built similar wells in underdeveloped regions like East Nusa Tenggara. Experience shows that wells for hundreds of families require extreme depths to reach clean water. "The deepest can reach up to 220 meters," Abdul added.
He promised that BNPB would use the state budget as effectively as possible. The agency is ready to be accountable for every rupiah used during the Sumatra disaster response.
"Certainly, every rupiah of state money that we use will be audited. It will follow the strict accountability standards for emergency funds," Abdul stated.
The controversy began after a video of President Prabowo Subianto went viral. The clip showed a meeting between the President, BNPB Head Suharyanto, and Army Chief General Maruli Simanjuntak. The meeting took place in Aceh Tamiang on Thursday, January 1, 2026.
During that meeting, the President received reports on the plan. Suharyanto and Maruli explained that drilling to depths of 100 or 200 meters costs between Rp100 million and Rp150 million per point.
Suharyanto claimed the funds include all necessary equipment. "The cost covers the full water installation. It also includes a water tank that the public can access directly," Suharyanto explained.
President Prabowo considered the cost to be fair. "To me, Rp150 million for a well reaching 100 to 200 meters is relatively cheap," said Prabowo. He based this on his own experience with similar projects that cost much more.
However, the public remains skeptical. Many people on social media feel the price is too high and wasteful. Some users pointed out that even deep wells usually cost between Rp50 million and Rp80 million.
Read: Sumatra Disaster Death Toll Rises to 1,178
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