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