by Abu Hanifah
JAKARTA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has started operation by related agencies and the military to tackle impacts of drought covering several provinces, aimed at assuring crop harvesting in the affected areas.
In the activities called Weather Modification Technology (TMC) operation, agencies involved in the mission will cultivate artificial rains and conduct mitigation processes in areas severely affected by drought.
Indonesia disaster management agency of BNPB Spokesperson Agus Wibowo said that 55 regency and municipality leaders have declared emergency response related to the ensuing drought at present.
The areas with drought emergency response status are located in Java provinces of Banten, West Java, Yogyakarta, Central Java, East Java and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
"Besides those 55 with the drought emergency response status, in total there are 75 regencies and municipalities affected by drought, including two regencies in Bali," Agus said in his office here on Monday, adding that 1,821 villages in those affected areas are affected by drought.
Besides BNPB, the agencies carrying out the operation are the Meteorology, Geophysics and Climatology Agency (BMKG) and the Technology Studies and the nation's technology assessment and implementation agency (BPPT), Agus said.
The operation was endorsed by the president in a cabinet meeting last week, he added.
Responsible on activities to mitigate impacts of drought on the ground, Agus said BNPB has distributed clean water amounting to around 7 million liters in the effected villages.
"We will add more trucks to transport tanks of clean water, public hydrant facilities, artesian wells and campaign to save use of water," Agus said.
The operation will be conducted until the conclusion of dry season estimated in September this year, Jon said.
