The Ministry Of Public Works Optimizes The Sutami Dam In Malang To Support Astacita Prabowo

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works (PU) continues to strengthen the management of water resource infrastructure to support food, energy and water independence. One of its efforts was carried out through optimizing the Sutami Dam located in Karajates Village, Malang Regency, East Java.

PU Minister Dody Hanggodo also conducted a review on Wednesday, August 13, to ensure that the historic dam can continue to support President Prabowo's Astacita vision, especially in achieving the nation's independence in the food, energy and water sectors.

On this occasion, Dody said, Sutami is one of the strategic dams in East Java that has been operating for more than 50 years. For this reason, periodic maintenance and maintenance are needed so that the dam can function optimally.

"This dam has been operating for a very long time. Therefore, special care is needed so that the dam can function properly and provide maximum benefits," said Dody as quoted from his written statement, Thursday, August 14.

The dam, which was taken from the name of the 16th Minister of Public Works, Sutami, has an inundation area of about 15 square kilometers and is capable of holding 175.11 million cubic meters of water.

The infrastructure functions to supply irrigation water for an area of 34,000 hectares, generates electricity of around 488 million kWh per year and controls flooding with a capacity of up to 4,200 cubic meters per second.

The management and monitoring of water at the dam was carried out by Perum Jasa Tirta (PJT) I, connected to the Command Center of the Directorate General of Water Resources in Jakarta.

PJT I is a state-owned company that manages water resources for five river areas under the authority of the central government, namely Brantas, Bengawan Solo, Jratunseluna, Serayu Bogowonto and Toba Asahan.

Dam maintenance is carried out regularly, including repairing floodgates and installations, lubricating machines, monitoring security instruments, such as seepage and structural shifts as well as cleaning up garbage and dredging sedimentation.

These efforts are expected to maintain the sustainability of the function of the Sutami Dam in supporting food, energy and water self-sufficiency.

During the visit, Dody also had a dialogue with the Malang Regency Water User Farmers Association (P3A). The farmers conveyed various aspirations and obstacles they faced in utilizing irrigation networks in the field.