182 lakes in Gunungkidul drying up

182 lakes in Gunungkidul drying up

Slamet Susanto, Yogyakarta

Seventy percent of the 260 lakes in Gunungkidul regency, or 182
lakes, have dried up, causing concern that thousands of people in
the regency will soon lack water.

Subechi, the deputy regent of Gunungkidul in Yogyakarta
province said people could no longer take water from the 182
lakes.

This has prompted the Gunungkidul regency administration to
deploy an additional eight water trunks to distribute free water
to local residents, he said.

"All in all, we have 13 water trucks and I think that is
enough to meet demand," he said.

However, out in the streets the residents tell a different
story. With the loss of the lakes, residents say they are now
forced to buy water for their daily needs.

Sumantri, an official at the Semanu district administration,
said four of five subdistricts in the district had been dealing
with water shortages for the last several days.

Residents in the area have begun buying jerricans of water for
Rp 70,000 per jerrican. He also said Semanu district was not the
only district in the regency with water shortages.

Other districts suffering from water shortages are Tepus,
Saptosari, Girisubo, Panggang, Purwosari and Tanjungsari, he
said.

"We ask the government to deliver water to our districts.
Currently, we are facing difficulties in obtaining clean water,"
he said.