Farmers hit by water shortage in Bogor

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)