TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, stated that the West Java province is currently in a drought emergency condition. "Therefore, through official authority, next week will mark the beginning of a weather modification program to create rain," Ridwan said on Friday, October 12, 2018.
Ridwan said that areas located around water reservoirs will receive first priority to receive artificial rain. Ridwan explained that due to the ongoing drought the water level of the Jatiluhur water reservoir has decreased to lower than 13 meters.
"It is out of the ordinary. If it reaches the lowest point, and other reservoirs also experience problems, Java-Bali can experience electricity crisis," Ridwan explained.
Ridwan added that the weather modification program will be carried out in cooperation with the BPPT. Ridwan however, did not disclose the budget for the program.
The artificial rain program will begin next week. "Starting next week, at least 20 times or even more attempts, we will begin, BPPT with its weather modification program will attempt to create rain in reservoir areas," Ridwan said.
Ridwan targeted that the artificial rain program can help to fill up water reservoirs in West Java.
"Hopefully with this [program], clean water resources in reservoirs can return to normal, and the clean water company currently experiencing water crisis can be mitigated through technological engineering," Ridwan explained.
Ridwan asserted that the decision was taken following the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency's prediction, which stated that rain, will only begin to occur in November. "If the prediction is not correct, the crisis will turn into an emergency. Before it turns into an emergency I need to make a decision," Ridwan said.
AHMAD FIKRI (CONTRIBUTOR)
