Minister Basuki Targets Settlement Of 61 Dams Until October 2024

PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono. (Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono targets that as many as 61 dams can be completed until October 2024.

"Later, a total of 61 dams will be completed in October this year," said Basuki at the PUPR Ministry office, Jakarta, quoted Wednesday, April 17.

Basuki added that in addition to the target of the 61 dams, the Ministry of PUPR was also ordered to build seven (7) dams.

The construction of the seven newly ordered dams will continue.

"This means that 68 dams and the target of 61 dams will be completed this year," he said.

To date, the Ministry of PUPR has completed 42 of the target of 61 dams. For 2023 alone, 6 dams have been completed, namely Cipanas Dam (West Java), Sepaku Semoi (East Kalimantan), Tiu Suntuk (NTB), Karian (Banten), Ameroro (Southeast Sulawesi) and Lolak in Bolaang Mongondow Regency, North Sulawesi.

With the completion of the 42 dams, it can irrigate 283,203 hectares (ha) of rice fields or 4 times the area of Jakarta.

The productivity of land for rice increases to 4-5 million tons per year and provides additional raw water of 35.6 meters per second which can meet the needs of 10 million people.

To support the increase in food crop productivity, the government has carried out two main strategies, namely increasing rice conversion to rice and increasing the planting index.