President Jokowi Inaugurates Semantok Dam in E. Java Province
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Tuesday (12/20) inaugurated Semantok Dam in Nganjuk regency, East Java province.
“Since 2015, we have been constructing dams and reservoirs. To date, Semantok Dam is the 30th dam that was inaugurated out of around 50 or 60 dams to be completed by the end of 2024,” he stated in his remarks.
According to the President, massive development of dams will not only bring benefits to agricultural sector but also can be used for tourism and hydropower.
“We are aware that water is the key to agriculture and other sectors such as electricity and tourism. Therefore, constructing more dams will improve our agricultural sector and eventually improve the welfare of the farmers,” he added.
For the record, the construction of Semantok Dam was started in 2017 and expended Rp2.5 trillion of the budget. The dam has a capacity of 32.6 million cubic meters with an inundation area of 365 hectares and can irrigate 1,900 hectares paddy fields.
The President expressed hope that the dam can benefit farmers in East Java province, particularly in Nganjuk regency and is expected to double rice yields. (TGH/UN) (RAS/HD/MMB)
