Government criticized for drought response

Government criticized for drought response

CIREBON, West Java: The government's delay in providing water
pumps to farmers has been blamed for the spread of the prolonged
and crippling drought in Cirebon regency, West Java.

Local officials said Wednesday that should assistance not
arrive in the few next days, the farmers would not be able to
harvest their crops.

The West Java agriculture office had promised eight pumps and
the central government had promised 143 pumps.

However, the aid has not arrived as water sources, including
rivers, continued to dry up, Cirebon agriculture office official
Asyikin Kusnandi said. --JP