Kulonprogo stricken by drought

Kulonprogo stricken by drought

YOGYAKARTA: More than 2,500 villagers in Kalibawang have been
facing difficulties in obtaining clean water due to the prolonged
drought currently afflicting Central Java.

"Villagers living in mountainous areas have had to spend many
hours on foot to reach water resources close to Borobudur
Temple," Anwar Hamid, Kulonprogo deputy regent, said here on
Thursday.

He said it was impossible for villagers to deepen their wells
in the dry season because they would have to dig down at least 50
meters to reach any source of water.

He said the local administration would allocate Rp 25 billion
in its 2002 budget and would enhance cooperation with foreign
nongovernmental organizations to construct wells in mountainous
areas in the regency next year. --Antara