59 rivers in critical condition

59 rivers in critical condition

PALU: An official with the Ministry of Resettlement and Regional
Infrastructure said on Wednesday that 59 rivers in cities
throughout the country were in critical condition.

The ministry's water management official, Sarwoto, said the
rivers were located in Kalimantan, Java and Sulawesi.

He blamed the condition of the rivers on the uncontrolled
exploitation of the forest.

Sarwoto said that the flooding in Jakarta and other cities
last February was mainly the result of forest destruction in the
mountainous area of Puncak, West Java.

He warned that many countries, including Indonesia, were
expected to face water shortages by 2025. The causes of water
shortages are pollution, excessive usage and poor water
management, he said. --Antara