Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Inauguration of Tapin Dam on Thursday, 18 February 2021 at Tapin Dam, Pipitak Jaya village, Tapin Regency, South Kalimantan Province

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

 Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Good morning,

May peace be upon us all,

Om Swastiastu,

Namo Buddhaya,

Greetings of Virtue.

Distinguished Minister of Public Works and Housing, Presidential Chief of Staff, Governor of South Kalimantan, Regent of Tapin,

And Distinguished Chairperson of Commission V of the House of Representatives, Members of Regional Leadership Communication Forum at province and regency level,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Praise be to God, this morning in Tapin regency, South Kalimantan province, the dam that was built five years ago in 2015 has been completed and it costs Rp986 million – almost Rp1 trillion. And this Tapin Dam has a capacity of 56.7 million meter cubic and plays an essential role in flood control. The dam is also expected to boost food security as it can provide irrigation for 5,472 hectares as well as raw water of 0.50 meter cubic per second. The dam also generates 3.3 megawatts of electricity. It is huge.

The Governor also said that thanks to Tapin Dam, flooding in Tapin regency has been reduced drastically. Only very small areas were hit by floods since Tapin regency has this dam. Mr. Regent, is that true? This is a function of the dam, besides irrigating rice fields, besides generating electricity, besides providing raw water supply. It also functions to control floods.

We are aware that the floods in South Kalimantan province affected an enormous area, approximately 10 regencies and cities and it requires a comprehensive management from the upstream to the downstream. I have ordered the Governor, as well as all Regents, to step in in land rehabilitation. It is crucial. Reforestation, mass replanting in fields, especially those connected to a watershed, need to be carried out immediately if we do not want floods to occur again in the future.

This is concerning the vast area that this dam covers, certainly several residents have to be relocated. I don’t know if the places, the houses, have been prepared for the relocation. Is there anyone who used to live around this dam here? Where are you relocated to? How many kilometers from here? Oh, near. Used to be… used to be here?

Atal Amos (Resident of Tapin Dam Area)

Yes, Sir.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

And now?

Atal Amos (Resident of Tapin Dam Area)

Now I’ve built a house in the downstream area, near the dam as well.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

The house was prepared?

Atal Amos (Resident of Tapin Dam Area)

Yes it was.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

When you moved, have the house and the land been prepared?

Atal Amos (Resident of Tapin Dam Area)

To be frank, Sir, we built the house on our own, Sir.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Built it on your own. But where did the budget come from? The Government?

Atal Amos (Resident of Tapin Dam Area)

From the compensation, Sir.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Oh, from the compensation, right… right.

Atal Amos (Resident of Tapin Dam Area)

Compensation for gain, Sir, compensation for gain. Not for loss.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Well, it’s the same. So, you were given compensation, you were given compensation, then you used it to move?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Yes.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Okay. Then, why did you want to be moved, relocated?

Atal Amos (Resident of Tapin Dam Area)

We thought about our parents, Sir. We were really suffering, Sir. Back then, it took one day to go to Rantau. On foot.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

To where on foot?

Atal Amos (Resident of Tapin Dam Area)

To the Regency.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

To the Regency on foot? Only to the Regency, not the Province (Capital), to Banjarmasin?

Atal Amos (Resident of Tapin Dam Area)

Not the Province. Yes. So, we want to have a change in our community, to send our children to school, to continue our children’s education. So, with this Tapin Dam, we are very grateful, Sir. Very grateful because we can change the life of our community in this dam area, Sir.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Is your house better or worse?

Atal Amos (Resident of Tapin Dam Area)

Quite, Sir. Quite better.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Quite… quite good or quite bad?

Atal Amos (Resident of Tapin Dam Area)

Good, Sir.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

I will take a look at it later.

Atal Amos (Resident of Tapin Dam Area)

You can look at the road sides over there.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Oh, you only moved a little to the side, then?

Atal Amos (Resident of Tapin Dam Area)

To the downstream area, Sir.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Okay. After this dam was built, how do you feel?

Atal Amos (Resident of Tapin Dam Area)

At first, it really felt like we were dreaming, Sir.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Dreaming how?

Atal Amos (Resident of Tapin Dam Area)

Meeting Mr. President Today.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

I asked about the dam, why did you dream about (meeting) the President?

Atal Amos (Resident of Tapin Dam Area)

Yes, yes. Personally, Sir, I am very proud, Sir. With this dam, I hope that the people here, not only those in the downstream area, but we hope that our people here become more than audiences, Sir. We want a change so that the people are empowered through the tourism village that we want, Sir, for this tourism village. Because it will create business opportunities for the people here.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Yes, I forgot. This is the function after seeing the beauty around this dam, you are right. So, it can be a tourist attraction, not only in Tapin regency, but also in South Kalimantan province. Right. I agree.

Alright, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

That concludes my speech on this auspicious occasion.

And by saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, today I hereby inaugurate Tapin Dam in Tapin regency in South Kalimantan province.

Thank you.

Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (DH/MEP)