Long Drought Triggers Water Crisis in Cilegon, PU Ministry Disburses Aid for 310 Residents

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works (PU) is moving quickly to help people affected by drought in the Kubang Sepuh area, Cilegon City, Banten Province, by distributing clean water assistance.

The distribution of assistance was carried out through the Cidanau Ciujung Cidurian River Basin Agency (BBWS C3) Drought Task Force (Satgas).

This activity is an implementation of the PU 608 Vision which is the direction of infrastructure development that is oriented towards real benefits for the community, through the provision of basic needs, improving the quality of life, encouraging productivity, to creating economic growth.

Minister PU Dody Hanggodo emphasized that water is the main foundation for sustainable development.

According to him, water plays an important role in supporting the agricultural sector, energy, climate action, poverty alleviation, and various other development agendas.

"We must ensure that every drop of water provides optimal benefits. And every community must feel the greatest benefit from water resources management," said Minister Dody to reporters, Thursday, July 30.

A total of 5,000 liters of clean water have been distributed to meet the basic needs of the community in the Kubang Sepuh Neighborhood.

This assistance reaches around 88 families or around 310 people who are experiencing difficulties in clean water due to the long El Nino dry season.

The head of RT 04 RW 02 Kubang Sepuh Lingkungan, Jahidi expressed his appreciation for the assistance provided by the PU Ministry.

He revealed that residents had long experienced a clean water crisis, even the existing wells were starting to dry up.

"Thank God, the Ministry of PU is moving to handle our community who have been drought-like for a long time. Thank you for helping our community with clean water, drought problems. Our hope is not just this time because our community needs it very much," he said.

In its implementation, the distribution of clean water also received support from Perum Jasa Tirta II which provided one unit of water tank car with a capacity of 7,000 liters.

This collaboration is expected to be able to help meet the community's clean water needs during the dry season.

The Ministry of PU emphasized that it would continue to monitor conditions on the ground and be ready to take quick steps to ensure that people's basic needs are met, especially in the face of the increasingly visible impacts of climate change. [ADV]