Yemris Fointuna, Kupang – A severe water shortage in East Nusa Tenggara threatens the livelihood of thousands with many forced to drink from unhygienic sources as potable water dries up.
In the provincial capital Kupang, well water has turned brackish due to dwindling supplies due to the prolonged drought.
Hundreds of residents in West Kupang, Sulamu, and West Fatuleu districts in Kupang regency are also facing water shortages.
"We are forced to drink water from the lake which is contaminated with cattle and goat manure," Yustinus Manafe, a resident in Sulamu district, said Friday.
An Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle faction member at the provincial legislature, Karel Yani Mbuik, told reporters in Kupang on Friday that the government had not paid serious attention to the problem.
"It has not set aside special funds to resolve the water crisis, despite the fact that water is a basic human need and should be readily available," Mbuik said.
According to Mbuik, the water crisis prevails every year, but the government has failed to conduct anticipatory measures. "This shows that the government is not serious about meeting people's needs," he added.
Kupang mayor Daniel Adoe had promised to dig at least 200 wells to meet the needs of 40,000 residents, but none had been completed.
People continue to consume unhygienic water because they cannot afford to buy water from the local tap water company between Rp 75,000 (approximately US$8.30) and Rp 125,000 per tanker, Mbuik said. The local administration has not taken the steps necessary to overcome the situation faced by a large part of the population every dry season, he said.
In Rote Ndao regency, some 1,000 people in Maubesi, Lida Manu and Lida Besi villages in Central Rote district, have to walk up to five kilometers to fetch water.
Local resident Bernard Nalle, 32, said residents from the three villages were severely deprived of clean water.
"There is only one public well in our village, but due to the huge number of villages fetching water there, it has dried up. Now, we have to walk for five kilometers to get to the nearest water source," Bernard said.
He said the water crisis had affected crops, such as banana, coconut and other side crops.
"Shallots and watermelons grown around the well have particularly suffered from the drought."