Rain-making machine ready

JAKARTA: The Ministry of Public Works is getting ready to make artificial rain to water areas hardest hit by the drought.

Minister Radinal Moochtar said however that this step will only be used as a last resort and if conditions permit.

"Bear in mind that it is not easy to create artificial rain," Radinal was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.

He cited wind strength and direction, climate and clouds as some of the main factors that should be considered.

In the past, the artificial rain did not fall on the targeted area because of sudden changes in the strength and direction of the wind at the time, he said.

Several parts of Central Java and the islands in the Nusa Tenggara provinces have already been hit by water shortages, according to recent reports. (emb)