Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono said in a statement here on Sunday, Indonesia's water potential has reached 2.7 trillion cubic meters per year. However, of the total volume only 691 billion cubic meters have been used, some 222 billion cubic meters of it were used for households, animal husbandry, fish farm, and irrigation.
The country would need more water reservoirs, including dams, hence people could collect rain water in the rainy season and use them during the dry season, he said.
The ministry's Director General for Water Resource Jarot Widyoko said the four dams that have been included in the government's National Strategic Program are Tapin, Tukul, Napun Gete, and Passeloreng dams.
Construction of the 1,892-hectare Paselloreng dam has been completed, with its capacity of 138 million cubic meters to irrigate 8,510 hectares of paddy field. The construction worth Rp753,4 billion was conducted under the Joint Operational (KSO) scheme of PT Wijaya Karya and PT Bumi Karsa.
Tukul Dam in East Java has the capacity of 8,68 million cubic meters and is projected to irrigate 600 hectares of paddy field and supply 300 liters of raw water per second. The construction worth Rp904 billion began in 2013 by PT Brantas Abipraya.
Tapin dam in South Kalimantan with capacity of 56.77 million cubic meters will focus on serving irrigation system in 5,472 hectares of paddy field in Tapin District.
Napun Gete dam in Sikka District of East Nusa Tenggara is expected to start water impounding in December.
Widyoko said the development of the dams is part of structural efforts in managing water and reducing the risk of flooding, in addition to non-structural efforts such as replanting program in upstream area, the synergy between government ministries/institutions with community that care for the rivers, and continued education to the people to stop littering in the river.
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Translator: Aji Cakti, Sri Haryati
Editor: Suharto
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