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