Cijantung residents ask for more water

JAKARTA (JP): Residents suffering from a shortage of drinking water due to the current drought in Cijantung, East Jakarta, have urged Governor Surjadi Soedirdja to provide them with more water.

Representatives of the residents made the request directly to the governor when he and his entourage visited the area on Sunday.

Suryadi responded positively to the request but urged the residents not to use too much detergent when doing laundry and not to dump waste water directly into the rivers for fear of polluting the water supply.

"Please use water more efficiently," Surjadi said. "This year's prolonged dry season has dug deeply into the city's water reserves."

The governor, accompanied by several of his staff, visited the area on his regular Sunday inspection to various sub-districts in the greater Jakarta area.

Referring to another request by residents that the city owned water company, PAM Jaya, immediately install a water catching plant in their sub-district, Surjadi asked for patience.

"Many other areas in the city are also suffering from the shortage of clean water so please be patient," asked Suryadi. "I can assure you all that your request will be heard by the municipal administration."

The governor also told the residents not to be afraid of criticizing the city administration so long as the contents of the criticisms are based on facts.

"Please criticize me and other city officials if we are wrong as it bodes well for the openness encouraged by the government," Suryadi pointed out.(bas)