Clean Water Scarcity Hits 130 Villages in Banjar

Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan (Antaranews Kalimantan) - Acting Banjar Regent Rahmadi Kurdi said at least 130 villages spread over seven subdistricts in the area affected by drought and experiencing water scarcity.


According to Rakhmadi, droughts that have occurred since the last few months caused rivers which have become the foundation of community dry, even if there is still water has been affected by sea water intrusion.

"Most of the rivers in the Banjar district are now salty due to sea water intrusion quite severe," he said here on Monday.

Some areas experiencing water shortages and the worst are Cintapuri, Sambungmakmur, Simpangampat and Aluh-Aluh.

Residents in subdistrict Aluh-Aluh, for example, they have to find water by using kelotok (traditional motorboat) up to tens of kilometers outside the region.

Number of drought and water shortages areas, he said, increased dramatically from the data of the previous month, which only hit five subdistricts with a population of about 10 thousand families (KK).

To overcome these problems, Rakhmadi has approved the distribution of clean water as an emergency response to the people who are currently experiencing water shortages, though limited to consumption and not for washing and bathing.

BPBDs Banjar buy and send clean water using a tank car containing 10 thousand liters to be distributed to the public free of charge with alternately in each region.

However, he added, the allocation of funds for this activity is very limited, even running out, so we need to get additional funds again.

"That's why, Banjar Distric sent a letter to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), requesting emergency funding to meet the water needs of residents in seven subdistricts," he said.