Residents need clean water

PALU, Central Sulawesi: Only 20 percent of the two million residents of Palu have access to clean water, far less than the administration's 1996/1997 target of 60 percent, Antara reported yesterday.

This year, the Ministry of Public Works has allocated Rp 5.2 billion (US$2.2 million) to upgrade the existing water facilities in seven cities, including Palu, in the province, according to spokesman Rachmat Kawaroe.

From the budget, Palu will get facilities to provide its residents with a water debit of 20 liter/second.

"It's still less than is needed, given that the population is growing by 3 percent annually," Kawaroe said. (swe)