Summary

The people of Bali are known as very close to the nature, as written in the wise words of Tri Hita Karana which always keeps harmonious relationship with the natural environment. The philosophy is also supported by socio cultural values and traditional norms that embody the behaviors of each Balinese. Up to now, such resources are still very effective in controlling the behavior of the society members in utilizing the natural resources such as awig-awig. Furthermore, you can still find subak, an institution functioning as water manager, including its conservation and its utilization.

Subak Tirta Amerta which is located in Dusun Bukian, Pelaga Village, Petang District, Badung Regency, the Province of Bali is one of the most active subak in Bali. Subak Tirta Amerta has the functions of maintenance, improvement and development of facilities and infrastructures of irrigation such as water distribution network, dam structure, tunnels, blai subak and pengulun subak (parahyangan padma and balai gedong).

Some physical activities that the members of Subak Tirta Amerta perform are; digging tunnel (length = 5,368 m, width = 80 m, height = 180 cm) which functions to flow water from Lake Jempangan through the sub-village of Sekar Mukti to the Sub-village of Bukian. This subak also created new rice fields (60 hectares), constructed 2 units of dam, irrigation system and communal work.

Besides doing the routine work related to the activities of physical construction, the subak institution also produces binding regulations to all of the subak members, such as regulation on rights and obligations of each member. Other activities include the implementation of various rituals related to the implementation of the philosophy of Tri Hita Karna namely the existence of equality, harmony and balance between human beings with their Gods, human beings with other human beings, and human beings with their environment.

All of the activities have resulted on the guarantee of sustainable water provision and fair and equal water distribution, either for consumption, agriculture, fishery, cattle breeding and plantation. At the moment the needs of water either for drinking water, agriculture, plantation, fishery and cattle breeding can be fulfilled. The existence of guarantee of water supply availability for agriculture encourages the expansion of agricultural area and increase of the intensity in planting. Meanwhile, the existence of tunnel makes the utilization of water becomes much more efficient and can be distributed better and fairly. Of course, it gives the impact on the increase of income and the level of social life and on strengthening harmony and social brotherhood because of the fair and even distribution of water.

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