Gov’t to Construct More Dams for Irrigation, Basic Water

President Jokowi responds to reporters’ questions after inaugurating Gondang Dam, in Central Java, Thursday (2/1). (Phooto by: Agung/PR)

After inaugurating Gondang Dam in Kerjo Subdistrict, Karanganyar Regency, Central Java, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Thursday (2/5) asserted that the Government will immediately build Jlantah Dam in the same area, and other dams on different locations.

“We will continue building the dams. In the past five years, the construction of 49 dams has been underway, and several of those have been completed, among others, the Raknamo Dam, Rotiklot Dam, Gondang Dam, Sei Gong Dam, and Tanjung Mila Dam. We are about to inaugurate it,” President Jokowi told reporters after the inuaguration of Gondang Dam.

According to the President, there are only 231 dams across the country, excluding the additional 49 newly-constructed dams. “Including the 49 dams, the number of dams in the country only accounts for 20 percent of the total needs. Thus, the construction of dams needs to be accelerated since basic water needs are really high compared to the number of existing dams,” the President explained.

Nevertheless, the additional 49 dams are still not enough to meet the water needs for irrigation so, the President added, the Government is planning to construct several other dams.

President Jokowi went on to say that the Government must increase the number of dams in all provinces in Indonesia which will water the irrigations, provide basic water to the people, and will be used as hydroelectric power plant.

For the record, the newly-inaugurated Gondang Dam can contain 9.15 million cubic meters and will irrigate 4,680 hectares of paddy fields in Karanganyar and Sragen Regencies, and meet the basic water needs for the people living in the two regencies.

In the meantime, the construction of Gondang Dam is completed, we just need to fill it with water which will take several months. Hopefully, the filling process can be finished in September, the President added.

As Gondang Dam will provide basic water to the people, President Jokowi expressed hope that the productivity of paddy fields located around the dam will increase or harvest seasons in Sragen to multiply from two times to three times. (MAY/AGG/ES)

Translated by : Rany Anjany Subachrum
Edited by : Muhardi/Ayu Wulandari