Clean water needed in Aceh

LHOKSEUMAWE, Aceh: Most residents of North Aceh are still in want of clean water, Antara reported Sunday.

Regent Tarmizi A. Karim said only around 200,000 out of one million residents have access to clean water, which, he said, was ironic in the industrial area.

He urged managements of leading companies here such as PT Arun Ngl Co., PT AAF fertilizer company, PT Kertas Kraf Aceh and Mobil Oil Indonesia to help bring about the necessity.

"I ask them not to turn blindly away to the fact that people here live in a bad environment," he said.

The administration lacks funds to widen the network of the city water firm, PDAM, he said, while it has made repeated offers for the involvement of private companies.

Around Rp 38 billion is needed to enable all residents in North Aceh to gain access to clean water, he said.