Kutai Earmarks Rp15bn for Drought
28 September 2015 15:50 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Samarinda-The rainless long summer in East Kalimantan not only causes the province to be shrouded by haze, but has also resulted in a water crisis at the Kutai regency. Since last week, the regency has been on a drought emergency alert.
"Yes, we have been on an alert status since September 25 September," Kutai BPBD chief Darmansyah told Tempo on Monday, September 28.
According to the regency's spokesman Davip Haryanto, almost half of the entire villages in Kutai's 15 sub-districts are on a water crisis.
"The water resources are depleting," said Davip.
As countermeasures, Kutai regency is coordinating with relevant agencies to prepare for drought if the area stays rainless over the coming month. Kutai regency is utilizing all equipment to help residents get water.
"With that status we can use our unexpected budget allocation of Rp15 billion to provide clean water," he said.
Drought can result in in fires. Therefore, Davip said, the regency government is asking each district to stay on guard for that possibility.
"Each district is mandated to have routinely patrol their areas," he said.
FIRMAN HIDAYAT
