Food crops in Tegal perish

TEGAL, Central Java: Some 40 hectares of food crops in Tegal regency have perished due to the current dry spell.

Harun Al Rasyid, chief of the irrigation section at the Tegal office of the public works ministry, said yesterday that more water supplies from the Mejagong and Cacaban Rambut reservoirs have been channeled to farms in the area to save crops.

He said that the local people have a difficult time searching for drinking water. Harun said that the water level of both reservoirs had dropped, forcing the local government to distribute irrigation water on a rotational basis, Antara reported.

He said that many residents use irrigation water for household purposes. (par)