C. Kalimantan rivers ebbing

PALANGKARAYA, Central Kalimantan: Eleven major rivers in the province are quickly drying up, disrupting transportation of staple goods within Central Kalimantan.

M. Parhusip, head of the transportation ministry's regional office, said conveyance of the goods now depended heavily on road transport, which was often hampered by haze enveloping the area.

"We anticipated that this might happen and asked jetty masters not to force themselves to go out at low tide because it could be fatal," he was quoted as saying by Antara.

"The boat's capacity has to be adjusted because the rivers' depths vary from two meters and more," he added.

Rivers are a main route of transportation in the heavily forested province. (mds)