Contemporary Research Analysis Journal

Water resources management in Indonesia has evolved from a centralistic and sectoral approach toward an integrated management paradigm based on hydrological units from 1974 to 2023. This study seeks to understand the dynamics of water resources policy evolution within the context of decentralization, using A juridical-normative approach with analysis of primary and secondary legal documents. The results are Law Number 11 of 1974 established the foundation of management centered on infrastructure development, while Law Number 7 of 2004 introduced management based on River Basins and Groundwater Basins. The annulment of that law by the Constitutional Court in 2015 resulted in Law Number 17 of 2019, which strengthens state control and establishes a hierarchy of water allocation priorities with basic minimum needs and people’s agriculture as the primary priorities. Presidential Regulation Number 37 of 2023 marks a further shift toward the National Water Security paradigm. The conclusion is although the regulatory framework has developed toward an integrated approach, the main challenge remains the conflict between the principle of hydrological unit-based management and the administrative structure of decentralization, which causes inter-agency coordination difficulties. The gap between normative provisions and practical implementation, particularly in resolving jurisdictional conflicts, constitutes a significant obstacle to realizing effective water resources management.

Water Resources Management, State Control, Decentralization, Water Security.

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