Reviewing The Construction Of The Jlantah Dam In Karanganyar, Minister Basuki: Pay Attention To The Environment And Work Methods

Air photos of the construction of the Jlantah Dam in Karanganyar, Central Java. (Doc. Ministry of PUPR)

KARANGANYAR - Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono reviewed the construction of the Jlantah Dam in Karanganyar Regency, Central Java, Sunday, November 13.

After conducting the review, Basuki conveyed to the contractors and supervisory consultants to improve work methods and pay attention to environmental aspects.

"Construction management and work methods should be further improved and pay more attention to environmental sustainability. For example, in handling leftover materials (disposal) and handling slopes/cliffs. Don't cut down trees if you don't need them," said Minister Basuki in a written statement, Sunday.

Basuki admitted that it is more difficult to restore damaged or degraded environmental functions, compared to maintaining them properly.

"It takes a long time and a lot of money to restore environmental conditions," he said.

Basuki added, work methods also need to pay attention to accuracy in every aspect of work.

"Building quality is not only seen from major construction, but also detailed work for aesthetics, for example, the work on arranging green landscapes or parks," he explained.

Meanwhile, Director General of Water Resources of the PUPR Ministry Jarot Widyoko said contractors and supervisory consultants must also pay great attention to weather and climate conditions which have an impact on construction safety.

"Consultants must be able to decide when construction must be temporarily stopped due to extreme rains, given the location of the dam which is in the highlands like the Ciawi Dam," he said.

Maryadi Utama, Head of the Main Station of Bengawan Solo River Basin, said that the Jlantah Dam with a capacity of 11 million m3 will irrigate 1,500 ha of rice fields in the Tlobo and Bondokukuh Irrigation Areas.

"Also as a raw water source of 150 liters/second, the potential for a Micro-hydro Power Plant (PLTMH) of 0.625 MW, flood reduction, as well as conservation and tourism in Karanganyar Regency," he said.

The construction of this dam was carried out by PT Waskita Karya (Persero) and PT Adhi Karya through the KSO scheme with a contract value of IDR 965 billion and an implementation period of 2019-2023.

"The physical progress of the dam has now reached 47.77 percent," concluded Maryadi.