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Dry season causes clean water shortage in East Nusa Tenggara
In response, Sikka Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head M. Daeng Bakir said the government had distributed clean water to affected residents to overcome the crisis in the region.
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People carry buckets of clean water amid a prolonged dry season. (The Jakarta Post/P.J. Leo)
P
eople living in Sikka regency, East Nusa Tenggara are experiencing a clean water shortage as groundwater rapidly depletes due to a long dry season in the region and some parts of the country.
A 5,000 liter water tank in Hewuli subdistrict, West Alok district, Sikka regency is now priced at Rp 150,000 (US$ 10).
“If we don’t buy it, we can’t cook or drink. The water we bought is for our daily necessities,” said local Theresia Toji as quoted by kompas.com on Sunday.
She said the long dry season had started to severely affect daily life and that she hoped the rainy season would commence in September.
In response, Sikka Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head M. Daeng Bakir said the government had distributed clean water to affected residents to overcome the crisis in the region.
“Clean water has been distributed through water reservoir tanks near residents’ houses. They can use the clean water flowing through the installed faucet,” he said.
He further said that the government would soon issue a statement declaring the situation a disaster to be properly addressed.
He also urged village and district officials to report water shortages to help the government map and prepare mitigation plans. (trn)
