Bantul Is Still On Standby For Drought Emergency Even Though November Is In The Rainy Season

Illustration. A resident crossed the area affected by the dry drought in the Botok Reservoir, Sragen, Central Java on Tuesday, May 25, 2023. (ANTARA-Mohammad Ayudha)

JAKARTA - The Bantul Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) is still imposing a alert status for drought due to drought even though November has entered the rainy season.

"We are still on standby for drought after extending standby from November 1 to 30," said Bantul BPBD Head of Emergency and Logistics Antoni Hutagaol when confirmed in Bantul, Wednesday.

According to him, the consideration is still imposing a drought alert because some people in drought-affected areas still need clean water assistance from the government to meet their daily needs.

"Because until now there are still many people who ask for clean water droppings," he said.

According to him, the drought alert status also refers to the Bantul Regent Decree (SK) Number 442 of 2024 concerning the Drought Emergency Alert Status in Bantul.

The decree states that based on the 2024 dry season, several areas in Bantul, especially hilly areas and highlands, have the potential for drought and lack of clean water.

He further said that based on data on the drop in clean water in the Bantul Regency area from 2024 to November 10, 1,119 water tanks had been distributed, equivalent to 5,595,000 liters.

In detail, as many as 347 tanks from BPBD Bantul, then 205 tanks from the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), 198 tanks from the Tagana of the Bantul Social Service, and as many as 85 tanks from the Environment Agency (DLH), as well as 281 tanks from donations.

"The distribution of clean water from BPBD Bantul is 347 tanks, the details are 246 tanks sourced from the APBD (Regional Expenditure Revenue Budget), and 101 tanks from CSR (social responsibility company) through BPBD," he said.

He said the data on beneficiaries of clean water assistance were 3,172 families (KK) consisting of 14,028 people, spread over 10 sub-districts, 25 sub-districts and 67 hamlets or hamlets.