Access to clean water major problem

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: A large number of people in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) have difficulties in accessing clean water, with a recent government survey finding that only 40 percent of the urban population in the province had a supply of clean water available.

The situation was worse in rural areas, with only 15 percent of the population enjoying access to clean water.

"The rest of the population, who have no access to clean water, have to rely on springs, rivers and wells in the surrounding areas," said Fransiskus Panglingen, the director of the Clean Water Project run by the East Nusa Tenggara provincial administration.

The provincial administration is planning to build more water installations in the province, so that by 2015 over 80 percent of people in urban areas and 60 percent in rural areas will enjoy access to clean water. -- Antara