Farmers hit by water shortage in Bogor

BOGOR (JP): Farmers of Pasir Awi and Leuwibatu villages in Rumpin subdistrict, Bogor regency, renewed their calls on Friday for the city administration to repair Sinampel Dam to irrigate their dying paddy crops.

The dam, the fields' only water source, developed a crack last year and has not been fixed.

"The rice fields here take water from the dam. In the dry season, we can never grow rice because the land becomes arid," Oib, a farmer in Leuwibatu, said on Friday.

Local residents have tried to fix the dam by placing sandbags against the damaged dam wall.

"Such barriers, however, cannot last long against the water pressure," he said.

Residents have turned to using rain water and water from small streams in a nearby forest.

Bogor administration spokesman Helmi Gustian said the problem would be discussed in a budget meeting in December. "Hopefully we can allocate funds to fix the dam." (24/edt)