Rice crops may be destroyed

CILACAP, Central Java: Some 20,000 hectares of rice fields in 67 villages in 6 districts may be lost due to the failure of a pump of the Gambarsari irrigation system and the decreasing water level in Serayu River.

A number of farmers, fearing their crops may be destroyed, have rerouted irrigation pipes and siphoned water into their fields. The local authorities are watching over the irrigation to prevent other farmers from doing the same.

Cilacap Regent HM Soepardi told The Jakarta Post that an emergency water gate has been opened to help farmers water their fields.

The Gambarsari pump is being replaced with a new pump which is part of the Gerak Serayu Dam currently under construction, he pointed out.

When completed in July, the new dam will be able to irrigate 24,700 hectares of fields all year long. (wah/swe)