Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Inauguration of Bendo Dam, on 7 September 2021, in Bendo Sub-district, Sawoo District Ponorogo Regency, East Java Province

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Good afternoon,

May peace be upon us all.

Distinguished Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) and Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Polri);

Distinguished Governor of East Java and Regent of Ponorogo;

Distinguished Managing Directors of state-owned construction companies PT Hutama Karya, PT Wijaya Karya (WIKA), and PT Nindya Karya;

Distinguished Heads of Polytechnics.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let us praise and thank God Almighty, alhamdulillah, this afternoon Bendo Dam has already finished and ready to operate.

This multifunctional dam that was built at a cost of Rp1.1 trillion has a capacity of 43 million cubic meters, a puddle clay area of 170 hectares, and a height of 74 meters. The dam will be able to provide water irrigation for 7,800 hectares of rice field, raw water supply amounting 370 liters per second, and reduce floods by 31 percent or 117.4 cubic meters per second.

This year, 2021, 17 dams have been and will be completed. The first is Tukul Dam in Pacitan regency, East Java province that had been inaugurated in February. Second, Tapin Dam in South Kalimantan province that had been inaugurated in February. Third, Napun Gete Dam in East Nusa Tenggara province that also had been inaugurated in February. Fourth, Sindang Heula Dam in Banten province that had been inaugurated in March. Fifth, Kuningan Dam in West Java province that was inaugurated on 31 August. And Way Sekampung Dam that was inaugurated at the beginning of September. And now Bendo Dam in Ponorogo regency, East Java province.

Furthermore, Paselloreng Dam (Wajo regency, South Sulawesi province) will be inaugurated this week. And other dams that we expect to finish, namely Karalloe Dam (Gowa regency, South Sulawesi province) in October, Ladongi Dam (East Kolaka regency, South East Sulawesi province) in October, Bintang Bano Dam (West Sumbawa regency, West Nusa Tenggara province) also in October, Ciawi Dam (Ciawi regency, West Java province) in November, Sukamahi Dam (Ciawi regency, West Java province) also in November, Tugu Dam (Trenggalek regency, East Java province), Gongseng Dam (Bojonegoro regency, East Java province) in December, Pidekso Dam (Wonogiri regency, East Java province) in December, and Margatiga Dam (East Lampung regency, Lampung province) in December 2021.

So, once again, in 2021 17 dams have been and will be completed, which means that agricultural productivity will be supported by water supply and it is our hope that it will increase farmers’ productivity. I would like to express my hope that the dam can be optimally utilized by connecting it with all irrigation networks in the region so that the people, especially farmers can increase their farming productivity.

That concludes my speech on this auspicious occasion. By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I officially inaugurate Bendo Dam in Ponorogo regency, East Java province.

I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (AP/MMB)