Seven New Dams in NTB Anticipate Drought

Throughout President Jokowi's two terms, seven dams were built in NTB to anticipate drought.

BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN/KRIS

President Joko Widodo turned the water gate wheel as a sign of the inauguration of the Tiu Suntuk Dam in West Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, on Thursday (2/5/2024).

President Joko Widodo again inaugurated the dam during his working visit on Thursday (2/5/2024). This time it is Tiu Suntuk Dam in West Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara. In his speech, President Jokowi said that climate change means that in the future, water will be the key to life.

“Water is very important for our lives. Mainly in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). Good for agriculture, good for raw water, our drinking water. For this reason, the government has built seven dams in NTB in the past ten years, only in NTB. The most," said President Jokowi.

Tiu Suntuk Dam is one of the large dams in NTB. The construction of this dam started in February 2020 and costed Rp 1.4 trillion.

With a capacity of 60.8 million cubic meters and a pool area of ​​312.09 hectares, the Tiu Suntuk Dam will be able to irrigate an area of ​​1,900 hectares in Taliwang District and Brang Ene District. These two sub-districts have quite extensive agricultural land, but performance has decreased due to lack of water supply.

The Tiu Suntuk dam can also provide raw water with a capacity of 68 liters per second. To reduce the potential for floods, this dam has a reduction capacity of up to 390 cubic meters per second.

Also read: Dam Worth IDR 1.6 Trillion in Konawe Reaches 71 Percent, Land Issue Resolved

Another potential is as a micro-hydro power plant with a capacity of 0.81 MW. In addition, the dam can also be utilized as a conservation area, a tourist destination, and a freshwater fishery.

Air is very important for our lives, especially in NTB. It is necessary for agriculture, as well as for our raw water and drinking water. That is why the government has been building seven dams in NTB over the past ten years, exclusively in NTB. The most in the country.

BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN/KRIS

President Joko Widodo had a conversation with students who were present during the inauguration of Tiu Suntuk Dam, West Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, on Thursday (2/5/2024).

Construction of the Tiu Suntuk Dam, which is located in Muhahiddin Village, Brang Ene District, West Sumbawa Regency, was actually completed in October 2023. Construction continued with water filling (impounding) which began on October 16.

Seven other dams

In addition to the Tiu Suntuk Dam, six other dams have also been built in West Nusa Tenggara during President Jokowi's term. The other dams are the Tanju and Mila Dams in Dompu Regency, Meninting Dam in West Lombok Regency, Bintang Bano Dam in West Sumbawa Regency, and Beringin Sila Dam in Sumbawa Regency.

Apart from the Tiu Suntuk Dam, there were five other dams built during President Jokowi's period.

Tanju Dam was inaugurated in 2018, while Mila Dam in 2019. Bintang Bano Dam, with a capacity of 76 million cubic meters and a cost of IDR 1.44 trillion, was inaugurated by President Jokowi on January 14, 2022. Meanwhile, Beringin Sila Dam, with a capacity of 27.46 million cubic meters and a budget of IDR 1.7 trillion, was inaugurated on December 29, 2022 by President Jokowi.

CYPRIANUS ANTO SAPTOWALYONO

President Joko Widodo and First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo, along with their entourage, boarded a boat during the inauguration of the Bintang Bano Dam in Bangkat Monteh, Brang Rea District, West Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, on Friday (January 14, 2022).

Meanwhile, the Meninting Dam in Bukit Tinggi Village, Lingsar District, West Lombok Regency, is still under construction. Minister of Public Works and Housing Basuki Hadimuljono inspected the development of the Meninting Dam on Wednesday (1/5/2024).

"His physical progress is good, already 81 percent. Riprap is also neat, both on the front and back. "Hopefully it can be completed in August 2024," said Basuki in a statement received by the daily Kompas.

The physical progress is good, already at 81%. The riprap is also neat, both in the front and the back. Hopefully, it can be completed by August 2024.

Meninting Dam will have a capacity of 12.2 million cubic meters and have a pool area of ​​53.6 hectares. This dam began construction in 2020 with a budget of IDR 1.4 trillion. Head of the Nusa Tenggara River Basin Center (BWS) I Tampang added that currently efforts are being made so that impounding (water filling) can begin in July 2024. In this way, the dam can immediately benefit the community.

In terms of calculations, the Meninting Dam will provide irrigation water for agricultural areas covering an area of ​​1,559 hectares. Another benefit is the supply of raw water with a capacity of 150 liters per second and the potential for micro-hydro power generation of 0.8 MW.

KEMENTERIAN PUPR

The development progress of the Meninting Dam in Bukit Tinggi Village, Lingsar District, West Lombok Regency, is on track as of May 1, 2024. The completion target for this dam is set for August 2024.

"In addition, the Meninting Dam can also reduce floods in West Lombok by 28 percent or with a capacity of 80 cubic meters per second. The dam also has the potential for tourism and fishing," added Tampang.

Overall, during 2015-2023, the PUPR Ministry has completed 42 dams out of a total of 61 dams in a number of regions in Indonesia.

Currently, we are doing our best to finish the remaining 19 dams by the end of 2024 or at the latest, early 2025.

In 2023, according to the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing's Expert Staff for Technology, Industry, and Environment and also spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, Endra S Atmawidjaja, six other dams with large enough capacities have been completed. In addition to the Tiu Suntuk Dam, the other five are the Cipanas Dam (West Java), Sepaku Semoi Dam (East Kalimantan), Karian Dam (Banten), Ameroro Dam (Southeast Sulawesi), and the Lolak Dam in Bolaang Mongondow Regency, North Sulawesi.

Also read: Lolak Dam in North Sulawesi Inaugurated, President: Food and Energy Focus of Next Government

"At the moment, we are working with all our effort to complete the remaining 19 dams by the end of 2024, or at the latest, in early 2025," said Endra.

These dams are expected to strengthen national food and water resilience. Generally, the dams built have many functions, including as a source of irrigation water, provider of raw water, renewable electricity generation, flood control, water conservation, and tourism development.