Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Inauguration of Sindang Heula Dam, Thursday, 4 March 2021 in Pabuaran District, Serang Regency, Banten Province

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Good afternoon,

May prosperity be upon us all,

Distinguished Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), Presidential Chief of Staff;

Distinguished the Governor of Banten as well as the Regent of Serang and all regents and mayors in attendance;

Distinguished Ulemas;

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Alhamdulillah, today the Sindangheula Dam, which was built in 2015, has been completed and ready to function.

Firts, this dam was built to boost agricultural productivity. With a capacity of 9.3 million cubic meters, this dam will irrigate 1,280 hectares of rice fields in Banten, particularly in Serang Regency. We hope that this dam will provide a great added value for farmers in Banten in ensuring sufficient water availability, so that we will be more productive and can maintain food security, especially in Banten Province.

Second, the Sindang Heula Dam also provides raw water for developing industrial areas in Serang Regency, Serang City, Cilegon City. This dam can also provide raw water up to 0.80 cubic meters per second. The province has started using half of 0.40 cubic meters of water per second.

Third, the dam also serves as a flood control by reducing flooding of 50 cubic meters per second from overflowing rivers, such as Ciujung River and Cidurian River, which often inundated Serang Regency and its surroundings.

Fourth, this dam also serves as a power plant with a capacity of 0.40 megawatts, so that it can be utilized by Banten Province to reduce the dependence on fossil energy since it is a hydropower plant.

Moreover, this dam can also function as a conservation and tourism area. We have to maintain conservation area around the reservoir so that the water level will increase every year and it can bring benefits to the community in Banten Province. And of course, I saw firsthand, this can be a new tourist destination in Banten Province and can also attract people from other provinces.

Lastly, I ask the local government and the community to maintain and make the best use of this dam to improve the welfare of our people.

I think that concludes my remarks on this auspicious opportunity, and by saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, today I inaugurate the Sindang Heula Dam in Serang Regency, Banten Province.

I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (SA/MMB)