750 families live on reservoir

BOYOLALI, Central Java: More than 750 families still occupy the area known as the "green belt" of the giant Kedungombo reservoir, more than two years after the controversial project went into operation.

Chief of the Kemusu district, Teguh, said the government has been trying in vain to make the farmers leave their homes.

The government will neither build public facilities for the villagers nor give them land titles, he said.

However the government will help them resettle if they move voluntarily. "They are our brothers and the government is ready to help them if they move," he said.

The villagers have refused the compensation that the government offered for their property to make way for the multi- million dollar project. (har)