Customers in some areas get less water

JAKARTA (JP): Tap water company PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja) apologized on Tuesday for water shortages in parts of West and South Jakarta but said it had increased untreated water supplies since Tuesday to tackle the problem.

Areas likely to be affected by the shortages include Kalideres, Warung Gantung, Rawa Lele and Citra 1, Cengkareng, Taman Surya V, Palem Lestari, Perumahan KSP, Bulak Wadon apartments, Tegal Alur, Meruya, Duri Mas, Duri Kepa, Kebon Jeruk, Komplek Kodam and Sang Timur, Villa Kelapa Dua, Taman Duta Mas, Sukabumi Utara, Pejaten, Pasar Minggu, Pondok Indah and its environs.

In a written statement received on Tuesday, the company said that the shortage was due to a decrease in supplies from state- owned water company PAM Tangerang following a disagreement over water rates between Palyja and PAM.

Palyja president Pierre Alla said that PAM Tangerang had reduced the usual water flow from 2,200 liters per second to 1,500 liters per second.

Alla said that the rates sought by PAM Tangerang were too high, especially in this time of crisis.

"We have agreed to rate hikes proposed by PAM Tangerang a number of times from 1998 to 2001, reaching 70 percent in all," he asserted.

"But we'll keep negotiating with them," Alla added.

He asked the customers to be patient and said that they would do their best to resolve the problem.(hdn)