Japan's aid for East Nusa Tenggara

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The Japanese government through the Overseas Economic Cooperative Fund (OECF) has allocated Rp 195 billion for irrigation and clean water projects in East Nusa Tenggara, Antara said on Friday.

Head of the irrigation division of the local public works office, A. Hasanudin, said the fund was earmarked for the construction of the Tilong Dam.

Once the dam is completed in the year 2001, he said, it will have the capacity to store 19 million cubic meters of water, which is enough to irrigate 1,484 hectares of land and provide drinking water for people.

"The dam is also expected to meet water demands of farmers in surrounding villages and residents of Kupang," he said.

He said the aid will also be used to build the Waemantar Dam in Manggarai district as well as provide groundwater for the villages of Oesao, Belu, West and East Sumba. (edt)