Drought spreads in Central Java

YOGYAKARTA: More than 81,000 residents of Gunungkidul regency are suffering from a growing drought, Antara reported yesterday.

The news agency quoted the regency's spokesman, Yosef Dibyo Nugroho, as saying that, at the beginning of the month, the residents of 41 villages in seven districts -- Tepus, Rongkop, Paliyan, Panggang, Semanu, Saptosari and Ponjong -- were relying on clean water that was supplied by the local government through seven water tanks. Each tank can hold 5,000 liters of potable water.

The Yogyakarta administration has a Rp 45.7 million (US$19,446) budget this year to provide water for areas hit by drought. "If rain doesn't fall by the end of the month, the remaining Rp 15.9 million must be spent to give the villagers clean water," Nugroho said.

The government started a clean water project in the regency 10 years ago. (swe)