Boyolali drought drags on

JAKARTA (JP): The drought in Boyolali, Central Java, is so severe that many residents can only bathe twice monthly, a press report said yesterday.

The dry season began last April and the rainy season won't come until at least October.

Antara reported yesterday that many Boyolali residents had to travel as far as six kilometers from home to fetch drinking water.

In some areas, people are lucky enough to receive drinking water from the government. They don't walk nearly as far to get it.

Many people are forced to share precious water with their dairy cattle. A cow can drink about 40 liters of water a day.

"The water shortage is serious because all the lagoons that hold rain water are getting low. The spring in Tlangu village is drying up," a villager said.

Suwardi said he and his neighbor in Sukorejo hamlet had to ride a bike five kilometers to a spring for water.

But some of those who can afford it are paying Rp 22,000 (US$9) for 5,000 liters of water, which is delivered by truck, rather than travel a long way to fight for it. (pan)