The Kuningan dam in West Java province, which has been under construction for seven years at a cost of Rp513 billion, has been completed and is ready to be put into operation
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated the Kuningan dam in Kuningan district, West Java on Tuesday and said he expects it to increase agricultural productivity and provide clean water to communities in the region.

"The Kuningan dam in West Java province, which has been under construction for seven years at a cost of Rp513 billion, has been completed and is ready to be put into operation," President Joko Widodo said while inaugurating the dam on Tuesday.



The inauguration was also attended by Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of State Secretariat, Pratikno, Governor of West Java, Ridwan Kamil, head of Kuningan district, Acep Purnama, and other officials.



"With a capacity of 25.9 million cubic meters, the dam will supply water continuously and provide irrigation water for three thousand hectares of community rice fields in Kuningan district, Cirebon district, and Brebes district," President Widodo said.

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If irrigation water sources are maintained, farmers can increase their planting frequency from once a year to 2 to 3 times a year, he added.



"So that it can increase production and also have an impact on the welfare of our farmers," Widodo said.



The Kuningan dam is very important as it will boost water security, help control floods, provide 0.30 cubic meters of raw water per second, and generate 0.5 megawatts of electricity, he noted.



"I ask that this dam be connected to the arrangement of irrigation networks, starting with primary channels, secondary channels, tertiary channels to the quarter, so that the dam is really useful in providing irrigation water for farmers," the President said.

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The goal is that the dam can provide added value to the region, and not only increase agricultural productivity, he added.



"But it will also facilitate the provision of clean water that is beneficial to the interests of the community," Widodo said.



The Kuningan dam spans 302.26 hectares in the Cibeureum sub-district and was constructed by WIKA contractor—Brantas Abipraya KSO.



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Translator: Desca L, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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