750 families live on reservoir

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)