Gov’t to Complete Kuwil Kawangkoan Dam in August 2021

Construction of Kuwil Kawangkoan Dam in North Minahasa, North Sulawesi Province. (Photo by: Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing).

The Government through Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing is constructing Kuwil Kawangkoan Dam in North Minahasa, North Sulawesi Province as part of the Government’s effort to control flood in Manado City and its surrounding areas.

For the record, Manado City was severely hit by flash flood in 2014.

Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono said that the construction of dam diaphragm is scheduled to start next week and is predicted to complete in 2-3 months.

“The progress of Package 1 has reached 64.5 percent and Package 2 has reached 83.7 percent, so the total construction progress of Kuwil Kawangkoan Dam has reached 73 percent. The dam is predicted to complete in August 2021,” the Minister said when monitoring the construction of the dam, on Tuesday (21/7).

He went on to say that the Ministry will also carry out spatial planning to Kuwil Kawangkoan Dam which is strategically located near the city center and Waruga (stone tomb of Minahasa people during the Megalithic era). This location is one of destinations of Manado – Bitung – Likupang KSPN (National Strategic Tourist Areas).

The dam will not only provide raw water with a capacity of 4.5 cubic meters per second to Manado City, Kalawat Subdistrict, Bitung City, and Bitung Special Economic Zone, but also serve as Mini Hydro Power Plant (PLTM) with a capacity of 2 x 0.70 MW, and is expected to boost tourism in the region.

The dam that can accommodate 23.37 million cubic meters of water is built on 139 hectares of land in 2016 by state-owned construction firm Wijaya Karya-DMT, and Nindya Karya on a budget of Rp1.46 trillion.

The Minister stated that land acquisition process for infrastructure development projects in North Sulawesi Province, particularly for the construction of Kuwil Kawangkoan Dam went well and the Government provided the compensation. He also praised the provincial government for being proactive in dealing with land issues. (Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing/EN)

Translated by : Rany Anjany
Reviewed by: Mia Medyana