Economy & Business

The Government Sets Aside Rp152 Billion Budget to Settle Drought Problem
Saturday, 21 August, 2004 | 18:46 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Indonesian government is making available a budget amounting to Rp152-billion in order to settle the drought problem in Indonesia.

Around Rp80 billion will be allocated to support the areas in drought and the rest will be used to restore irrigation infrastructure, which has been damaged by natural disasters.

According to Minister of Resettlement and Regional Infrastructure Soenarno, the government has long been prepared to allocate a budget to help settle the drought problem.

Like last year, the Rp80 billion budget will be allocated to both regions on Java island as well as regions on other islands in Indonesian.

“The funds will be processed through the lowest tenders,” Soenarno stated in Jakarta on Thursday (19/08).

Soenarno also said that the areas receiving the funds were really dry and had no water supplies.

This has caused difficulties for farmers as regards planting.

Irrigation infrastructure must be repaired first during the current dry season so that cultivating activities can go ahead.

“We provide the funds to enable the farmers to work. We will at least require one and a half months to settle all matters,” said Soenarno. (Agriceli-Tempo News Room)