Drought blight for paddy fields

PURWOKERTO, Central Java: About 700 hectares of rice fields in Wangon district here have been hit by water shortages due to the prolonged dry season.

"How can we water the paddy fields? ... We do not have enough water even to take a bath," Santaraja, a resident, said.

Residents can only shower at 5 a.m. or at about 10 p.m. "That's because we have to wait for the water to surface from the well." He added that local wells could only supply water for 10 people.

Residents claim to have received little assistance from the local administration. (45/edt)