President Jokowi Inaugurates Kali Dendeng Water Supply System

President Jokowi inaugurates Kali Dendeng drinking water supply system in Kupang city, East Nusa Tenggara province, Wednesday (12/06). (Source: a screenshot)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Wednesday (12/06) inaugurated Kali Dendeng drinking water supply system in East Nusa Tenggara provincial capital of Kupang.

“Today we are inaugurating Kali Dendeng drinking water supply system in Kupang city. The supply can be used for 15,000 household connections, but it has only been used for approximately 3,000 household connections. It means that there is still a lot of untapped potentials,” he said.

To that end, the President has ordered the local government and Minister of Public Works and Public Housing to increase the system’s household connections.

“I order Minister of Public Works [and Public Housing] as part of the Central Government to help connect households to the system so that the work can be completed soon. It should be the responsibility of the local governments; that of the city government, provincial government, and regional drinking water company (PDAM). However, the Central Government will help East Nusa Tenggara and Kupang,” he said.

For the record, Kali Dendeng drinking water supply system was built in 2020 with a budget allocation of Rp173 billion.

The President expressed hope that the infrastructure can secure water supply for households in East Nusa Tenggara, especially in dry season, adding that the Government has also built and is currently constructing several dams in the province to ensure water supply for agriculture.

“We have been building seven dams. Several have been completed, while some others will be completed in 2024. It will bring extraordinary benefits for production, for the productivity of rice fields in East Nusa Tenggara,” he remarked. (FID/UN) (DH/EP)