Hundreds Of Hectares Of Rice Fields In Karawang Drought Due To Shallow Channels

Illustration - Sawah drought. BETWEEN/Syifa Yulinnas/dok

Hundreds of hectares of rice fields spread across a number of areas around Karawang Regency, West Java experienced drought due to the silting of irrigation channels during this year's dry season. "There are 310 hectares of rice fields that drought this dry season," said Head of Plantation and Plant Protection of the Karawang Food Agriculture and Security Service Dadan Danny when contacted in Karawang, West Java, Antara, Sunday, October 22. As of mid-October, 310 hectares of rice fields were recorded. Meanwhile, rice fields that are threatened with drought reached 1,539 hectares. Sawah, which experienced drought, is spread across almost all sub-districts around Karawang. However, the rice fields with the most drought occurred in Telagasari District, reaching 80 hectares. Dadan said the drought that hit the rice field area generally occurred due to the phenomenon of El Nino. In addition, the condition of the shallow irrigation canal also strongly triggers a drought in rice fields. "On average, drought is due to problems with irrigation canals that are clogged and due to silting," he said. The irrigation canal is clogged due to the large amount of garbage following the rise of illegal buildings along the irrigation canal in the Karawang area. Deputy Regent of Karawang Aep Syaepuloh said that previously his party had handled drought that hit several areas around Karawang. However, he admitted, there are still droughtted rice fields. Among the efforts that have been made by carrying out normalization in the area around Banyusari, to deal with drought-hit rice fields. Meanwhile, in the Cibuaya area, illegal buildings have been demolished on the banks of irrigation canals. "The demolition was not carried out by the local government, but was demolished by the owner himself. Because they realized the building caused a blockage in the irrigation canal," he said.

In addition, his party has also coordinated with Jasa Tirta II Jatiluhur Company and the River Basin Center (BBWS), so that in the future it will regulate illegal buildings along the irrigation canals in the Karawang area.