Antara 16 Sep 17;
Pekalongan, C Java, Sept 15 (Antara) - Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo stated that his region had been categorized in the drought disaster zone during this years dry season.
"Almost 22 districts are now experiencing drought," said Ganjar, after opening the exhibition Creativity and Innovation of Central Java, which is being held in the city of Pekalongan, Friday.
He noted that since June 2017, to overcome the problem of water shortage for the community, the provincial government had conducted coordination meetings with several related elements to discuss the drought.
At the coordination meeting, it has been decided in the short term to prepare the distribution of water by channeling it through the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the company and the local government, he revealed.
"Therefore, we have asked the public to report to the local government when the region is hit by drought," he said.
As for areas where it is difficult to do clean water distribution, Ganjar stressed that it would be done by digging deep wells and pumps piping engineering.
He hoped that the regional head would participate, whether the village head or sub-district head monitor, so that the drought can be reported immediately.
"Currently, many companies, both state-owned and local enterprises, and private companies are coming forward to help the Central Java Provincial Government through corporate social responsibility in overcoming drought in some areas," he remarked.
(A014/INE/B003)
EDITED BY INE
(T.A014/B/KR-BSR/B003)
Drought hits villages in Pasuruan, East Java
The Jakarta Post 16 Sep 17;
Dozens of villages in Pasuruan regency, East Java, continue to suffer from severe drought, a local disaster mitigation official announced on Friday.
Pasuruan Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Bakti Jati Permana said drought has affected at least three districts in the regency.
BPBD Pasuruan is currently conducting various mitigation efforts, including providing clean water to the affected villages.
“Since last month, residents have been supplied with clean water, with a delivery of five or six times a week,” Bakti said as quoted by Antara.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has recorded as of last Sunday more than 2,726 villages across Java, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) struggling with drought, putting around 3.9 million residents in a dire need of clean water.
On Tuesday, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo gathered his Cabinet ministers to discuss drought tackling measures and to ensure that the mitigation efforts were in place.
Jokowi said that ensuring a clean water supply and maintaining the operation of irrigation channels in drought-affected regions were the main priority in the short term. (mos/ebf)
