Drought hits
\nmany parts of
\nCentral Java<\/p>\n
Agus Maryono
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nPurwokerto, Central Java<\/p>\n
The rains have already fallen in some areas of Central Java,
\nwhile the dry season continues in many others.<\/p>\n
The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said yesterday that the
\ntransition period (from the dry to rainy season) would last until
\nDecember with rains falling sporadically in different areas.<\/p>\n
Agency spokesman Waab Tamrin said that the peak of the rainy
\nseason would be in January and February next year.<\/p>\n
Thousands of families in Cilacap, Boyolali and Purbalingga
\nhave gone without clean water this year.<\/p>\n
In Cilacap alone, at least five districts, including Kroya,
\nSidareja, Kawunganten, Wanareja and Majenang have been
\nexperiencing clean water shortages for at least five months.<\/p>\n
In Boyolali, as many as 48 villages in three districts have
\nbeen suffering from prolonged drought.<\/p>\n
Many villagers have had to sell cows to afford water for their
\nother cows.<\/p>\n
\"A cow costs Rp 4 million. With that much money we were able
\nto buy water for five other cows. Each cow needs 50 liters of
\nwater per day,\" a villager was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
\"We expect the local administration to provide us with money
\nto fund an artesian well project, which may cost between Rp 75
\nmillion and Rp 100 million,\" another villager said.<\/p>\n
In such times of shortage, many residents from five villages
\nin Pengadegan district of Purbalingga have only been able to
\nbathe once a day.<\/p>\n
\"We have to use the clean water we buy from Purbalingga Water
\nCompany (PDAM) for bathing. Once a day is enough,\" Yusman, 45, a
\nlocal said.<\/p>\n
\"The villagers club together to pay PDAM Rp 35,000 for each
\n4,000-liter tank of water,\" said Yusman.<\/p>\n
Many of the villagers have to walk for hours over the hills to
\nfind clean water sources. \"There is a river across the village,
\nbut the water is very dirty during the dry season,\" said Yusman.<\/p>\n
\"Those who have money find few problems in obtaining clean
\nwater. They just order clean water from PDAM. But for people like
\nme, having money for the daily meal is good enough.\"<\/p>\n
A prosperous family in Pengadegan had spent Rp 3 million to
\nobtain water. They had instructed people to drill a hole in the
\nriver bed after which they installed a suction pump.<\/p>\n
\"Another resident has spent Rp 4 million for a domestic well
\nproject. Workers drilled a 70-meter deep hole but they still
\ndidn't manage to find any water,\" Sumbono, another resident said.<\/p>\n
As individual efforts to obtain water have been
\nunsatisfactory, Pengadegan residents have constructed a kind of
\nsmall dam to hold the water from Lebak River, which is nine-
\nmeters wide.<\/p>\n
The head of the district's development office, Tri Gunawan
\nSetiadi, said that the village project had cost Rp 158 million.
\n\"The money came from the regency's annual budget.\"<\/p>\n
Once the project is completed the water will be distributed to
\nthe villagers.<\/p>\n
Residents said, however, that the money was not enough. \"With
\nthat amount we have just been able to buy some 2,100 meters of
\nplastic hosing which will be used to distribute water to people's
\nhomes. We really need at least 7,000 meters.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/drought-hits-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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