"Development of dams would be followed by development of irrigation system, or we call it as premium irrigation," Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said in a statement here on Monday.
The dam should give benefit for farmers to irrigate their fields.
The minister observed Copong Dam in Garut District recently. He called on the public not to litter the river with garbage.
Copong dam is part of Leuwigoong irrigation area that covers 5,313 hectares of land in 11 subdistricts in Garut District.
The dam has several damages in its canal that has caused water losses, damages on its water gate, and silting up of irrigation canal.
Head of Cimanuk Cisanggarung River Basin Agency (BBWS) Happy Mulya said, the rehabilitation and construction of irrigation system in Leuwigoong has been conducted in stages.
Development of Copong dam in Garut in 2010 to 2014 that cost some Rp136.3 billion is aimed at maintaining the water surface level in Cimanuk river to be distributed through the irrigation system.
During 2013-2018 the ministry has built a 15-km primary irrigation system and rehabilitate a 3-km primary irrigation system.
It has also developed a 30-km secondary irrigation system and rehabilitate 69.5 km of the irrigation system.
"We will continue to build the tertiary irrigation system which is targeted to complete in two years (2019-2020). For (development) in 2019 the government has allocated Rp13 billion of fund from its total budget of Rp77 billion," Happy said.
Reporting by Aji Cakti, Sri Haryati
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
