It turns out that the high precipitation rate across Indonesia does not reduce the effect of drought in some areas. If we look at the high precipitation rate that is equally distributed to almost every part of the country for the past six months, it is actually suffice to say that there are enough water supplies for all, even when water is deficit in the dry season.
“The problem is how to manage water resources so the abundant water supplies in the rainy season can meet the demands during the dry season,” said Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Dwikorita Karnawati, M.Sc., Ph.D, in her opening remarks for the graduate inauguration in the Grha Sabha Pramana Hall of UGM on Wednesday (29/7).
Dwikorita mentioned the data from BNPB (National Disaster Mitigation Agency) showing that currently there are eight provinces in Indonesia entering the vulnerable, meteorological dry period (West and East Nusa Tenggara, East Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, West Java, Gorontalo and Southeast Sulawesi). The meteorological drought is responded differently by each bearing in mind the condition of land coverage, geomorphology/geology, characteristics of river basins, rate of environment destruction and people’s behaviour in using the water.
“The result was that drought symptoms will emerge gradually, affecting the sustainability of the ecosystem or society order,” said the Rector.
Thus, UGM recommends the fulfillment of the basic right of people for water and access to water as well as social resilience strengthening in managing water through massive save-water campaigns.
UGM Inaugurates 1,074 Students
Meanwhile, during this graduation period as many as 1,074 students from S2, specialist and doctoral programmes are inaugurated with 250 of S2 and 12 of doctoral students graduated cum laude. The youngest graduate from S2 is Hanifrahmawan (Chemical Engineering) 21 years and 11 months old while the doctoral level is Mad Alfin A. Mohamad (Agricultural Sciences) graduating at 31 years and 1 month old. Average times of studies for S2 is 2 years and 9 months, specialist 4 years and 7 months, and doctorate 5 years and 8 months.
There is also a briefing from Health Minister that is read out by expert staff, drg. Tritarayati, S.H., MH. Kes., saying the success of health development does not rely on the hard work of the health sector only but also from contributions from various sectors.