Drought hits C. Java regencies

SEMARANG: A total of 72 villages in 15 districts in Grobogan regency are suffering clean water shortages as nearby wells and rivers are empty due to a long dry spell.

Chief of Central Java's Social Unit in Grobogan, Mudakir Adi, said some of the districts most severely affected were Purwodadi, Wirosari, Brati, Kedungjati, Tawanghardjo and Kradenan.

"We will start distributing clean water by tanker. Each of them will carry around 5,000 liters," he said on Wednesday.

"We cannot afford to provide water for free because there are transportation expenses to cover," Mudakir said, adding that it would cost around Rp 25,000 to fill a tank with water. (har/edt)