6,600 ha of crops suffer as drought hits Central Java

BANJARNEGARA, Central Java (JP): Severe drought has hit many areas in the province, one of Indonesia's largest rice growing areas, and the rainy season is still two months away.

Data at the provincial food crops agency shows that up to June, crops in 6,636 hectares of paddy fields had reportedly wilted and the water level in several major reservoirs' has dropped drastically.

The Badhe reservoir in Boyolali, which has a capacity of 2.4 million cubic meters and is capable of irrigating 1,500 hectares of paddy fields, has dried up and its bottom is developing cracks.

The hardest hit regencies include Boyolali, Pati, Sragen, Wonogiri, Sukoharjo, Rembang, Blora, Semarang, Grobogan and Banjarnegara.

Local officials said it is the first time the Badhe reservoir has run out of water. They mentioned sedimentation and lack of water from the Serang River as the main causes.

The giant Kedungombo reservoir, also in Boyolali, is another victim of the drought. But local people who lost their land for the controversial project in the late 1980s are exploiting the situation by growing cassava and corn on its drying slopes, Antara reported.

In Banjarnegara, a mountainous western regency, severe drought has reportedly stricken 35 villages. Over the past month, residents in the villages have found it increasingly difficult to obtain drinking water.

Banjarnegara regent Nurachmad told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the situation in his area is "worrying" because even major reservoirs like Mrica, Selomerto and Banarcahyana are also drying.

"I believe the water crisis has stricken more than the 35 villages because not all subdistrict chiefs have filed their reports on the drought in their area," he said.

Central Java governor Soewardi has formed teams to handle the water crisis. The task force is transporting drinking water to stricken areas by truck. (wah/pan)