In the short term, the lakes for example would be cleaned from water hyacinth plants because the trash from hyacinth was big so far and affect the water supply of lakes.
Semarang, C Java (ANTARA News) - Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta said there was a total of 15 lakes in different parts of Indonesia that were now in critical condition and urgently needed to be rehabilitated.

"The lakes are located in various parts of the country such as Lake Rawa Pening in Central Java and Lake Toba in North Sumatra," the minister said after opening the second National Conference on Indonesian Lakes (KNDI) here on Friday.

He said that the efforts to restore the lakes critical conditions would be made in the short and long terms schemes.

In the short term, the lakes for example would be cleaned from water hyacinth plants because the trash from hyacinth was big so far and affect the water supply of lakes.

He said that the handling of Central Java`s Lake Rawa Pening whose condition was very critical would be prioritized and be done immediately, of course with the assistance of the local government.

The minister on the occasion also appreciated the Batam authorities` step to increase the number of its dams from the previous five reservoirs to seven dams. Thus, the need for water of the local people would be met until 2013.

"Now Batam has added two dams to its reservoirs so that it now has seven dams. I appreciate the step and hope that other regions will follow suit," the minister said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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