Gov’t to Complete Construction of 17 Dams This Year
Paselloreng Dam, in Wajo regency, South Sulawesi province. (Photo by: Public Relations/Jay)
In a bid to strengthen national food security, the Indonesian Government aims to complete construction of seventeen dams all over the country.
“This year, the construction of seventeen dams will have been completed by December. We hope through these existing dams, we can strengthen and improve our food security,” President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said during the inauguration of the Paselloreng Dam and Gilireng Weir located in Wajo regency, South Sulawesi province, Thursday (09/09)
The Paselloreng Dam is the 8th dam that has been completed by the Government and inaugurated by President Jokowi in 2021.
With a capacity of 138 million cubic meters, the dam is capable of irrigating 8,500 hectares of rice fields.
Previously on 14 February, the Head of State also inaugurated the Tukul Dam in Pacitan regency, East Java province, the first dam infrastructure inaugurated by the President this year. The dam, with a capacity of 8.68 million cubic meters, can irrigate 600 hectares of agricultural land.
After a few days, on 18 February, the President also inaugurated the Tapin Dam in Tapin regency, South Kalimantan province. The dam has a capacity of 56.77 million cubic meters and is able to provide irrigation for 5,472 hectares of land.
On 23 February, the President inaugurated the Napun Gete Dam in East Nusa Tenggara province. The dam, located in Sikka regency, has a capacity of 11.22 million cubic meters and is capable of providing irrigation for 300 hectares of surrounding rice fields.
Furthermore, on 4 March, President Jokowi inaugurated the Sindangheula Dam in Serang regency, Banten province. The dam has a capacity of 9.30 million cubic meters and is able to provide irrigation for 1,289 hectares of rice fields in Banten.
On 31 August, the Head of State inaugurated the Kuningan Dam in Kuningan regency, West Java province. The dam, with a capacity of 25.90 million cubic meters, is able to continuously supply irrigation water for 3,000 hectares of community rice fields in Kuningan regency and Cirebon regency in West Java province as well as Brebes regency in Central Java province.
The 6th infrastructure is the Way Sekampung Dam which is located in Pringsewu regency, Lampung province. The dam, inaugurated on 2 September, has a capacity of 68 million cubic meters and can irrigate 55,000 hectares of existing irrigation areas as well as 17,500 hectares of new agricultural areas.
In addition, the President also inaugurated the Bendo Dam in Ponorogo regency, East Java province on 7 September. The dam, with a capacity of 43 million cubic meters, is able to supply irrigation water for 7,800 hectares of agricultural area.
Based on data from Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), the dams to be inaugurated in October are the Karalloe Dam in Gowa regency, South Sulawesi province; the Bintang Bano Dam in West Sumbawa regency, West Nusa Tenggara province; and the Ladongi Dam in East Kolaka regency, Southeast Sulawesi province.
Furthermore, the Ciawi Dam and the Sukamahi Dam in Bogor regency, West Java province as well as the Tugu Dam in Trenggalek regency, East Java province will be inaugurated in November 2021.
At the end of 2021, the Government aims to inaugurate the Gongseng Dam in Bojonegoro regency, East Java province, the Pidekso Dam in Wonogiri regency, Central Java province, and the Margatiga Dam in East Lampung regency, Lampung province. (UN) (FI/EP)
