Minister Dody Targets Pidekso Dam Can Airi 1,295 Ha Sawah In Wonogiri In 2026

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works (PU) targets the Pidekso Dam in Wonogiri Regency, Central Java, to irrigate about 1,295 hectares of functional irrigation land by 2026.

PU Minister Dody Hanggodo said the Ministry of Public Works through the Bengawan Solo River Basin Center (BBWS) of the Directorate General of My Source Air in 2024 had worked on a premium irrigation network, namely irrigation which received water supply from the 6 kilometer Pidekso Dam.

"In 2025 we will do everything from end to end, so that there are around 1,295 hectares of functional irrigation land that can supply water from the Dam (Pidekso). Our target by the end of this year or no later than 2026 has been completed," said Dody in a written statement, quoted on Saturday, January 4.

The construction of the Pidekso Dam was followed by the construction of its irrigation network to support the food self-sufficiency program which is part of the Astacita of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Dody assessed that with the continuous water supply from the Pidekso Dam, farmers who previously only planted once a year could grow to two or three times.

"So, now the dams whose designs are for irrigation, we check all from Aceh to Papua so that their functions are carried out. In the end, how the infrastructure we built can prosper farmers," he said.

Pidekso Dam with a capacity of 25 million cubic meters and an inundation area of 232 hectares can irrigate 1,493 hectares of agricultural land consisting of 1,295 hectares of functional land in Giriwoyo and Baturetno Wonogiri Regency as well as potential land that previously had 198 hectares of rain fields.

This multifunctional dam also provides benefits to meet the raw water needs of Wonogiri residents with a capacity of 300 liters per second and has the potential as a new tourist destination.

In addition, it also reduces the flood discharge by about 11 percent in the downstream area because the dam upstream of the Bengawan Solo River is a river management unit that is connected to the Multipurpose Reservoir of Wonogiri Regency or known as the Gajah Mungkur Wonogiri Reservoir.