DENPASAR ~ Hundreds of people at Banjar Kiadan in Pelaga village, Petang, north of Ubud, have for several weeks been walking two kilometres a day for supplies of clean water.

About 370 people in the banjar (locality) – 170 originally from the area and 200 others from outside – have been hit hard by drought conditions this dry season.

However, Petang leader I Nyoman Suardana said he had not had reports on the situation from residents and that the village’s own water source was basically sufficient to meet daily needs.

Difficulties in distributing water from the village source made it a challenge for some residents to get adequate amounts of clean water, he said.

The village was receiving substantial assistance for the procurement of clean water and would soon have access to an artesian well as an alternative water source which should meet the needs of residents, he said.