Danu Kerthi also has potential of raw water, energy, flood control, and tourism, which will boost the local economy
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono has said that Danu Kerthi Dam in Buleleng, Bali, will supply water, control flooding, and also contribute to the growth of the local economy.

"Danu Kerthi also has potential of raw water, energy, flood control, and tourism, which will boost the local economy," the minister said in a statement received here on Thursday.

He accompanied President Joko Widodo to the inauguration of the dam in Buleleng District, Bali Province.

Hadimuljono listed the benefits of the dam, such as reducing floods by 156.86 cubic meters per second, providing 510 liters per second of raw water, and increasing electricity reserves by 0.54 MW. It also has a conservation area and the potential for becoming a new tourism destination in northern Bali.

Meanwhile, Director General of Water Resources at the ministry Jarot Widyoko said that one unique thing that separated the dam from others was that it was the first dam whose core was built with asphalt technology.

"This technology can be an example for the construction of other dams in Indonesia because it is cheaper and more stable (flexible). This is the 36th dam of a total of 61 dams that have been built. We expect that this innovation will be more affordable later on," he added.

Danu Kerthi Dam is a Zonal Core Erect dam measuring 260 meters in length with a peak height of 70 meters. It has a horseshoe-type tunnel with a diameter of 4.50 meters and a length of 3.55 meters. The dam was built in 2018 with PT Pembangunan Perumahan (PP) - PT. Adijaya (KSO) as the contractor. The project cost Rp820.8 billion.

During the dam’s inauguration, President Widodo informed that Danu Kerthi Dam has a capacity of 5.1 million cubic meters and covers approximately 29.8 hectares of inundation area, which would irrigate 588 hectares of rice fields.

"So this dam is used for irrigating rice fields and to reduce flooding," the head of state remarked.

On the same occasion, the Governor of Bali, I Wayan Koster, explained that initially, the dam was called Tamblang Dam. However, he asked President Widodo to inaugurate the dam with a name that resonates with local wisdom, hence the new name, Danu Kerthi, was chosen.

"We request the President to inaugurate the dam, which was originally called the Tamblang Dam, we ask to adopt local wisdom, with the proposed name of the Danu Kerthi Buleleng Dam. Danu means a source of water, Kerthi is to purify and glorify springs," he elaborated.

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Translator: Indra A P, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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