Construction Of 6 Dams In NTB Targeted To Be Completed Before Jokowi-Ma'ruf's Government Ends

Expert Staff to the Minister of PUPR Endra Saleh Atmawidjaja. (Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI)

WEST LOMBOK - Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) targets the construction of six dams scattered in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province to be completed before the term of President Joko Widodo and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin's administration ends in October 2024.

"Now that President Jokowi has inaugurated the Tiu Suku Dam in West Sumbawa. This means that there is only one dam that is still under construction, namely the West Lombok Meninting Dam in Bukit Tinggi Village," said Expert Staff of the Minister of PUPR Endra Saleh Atmawidjaja quoted from ANTARA, Thursday, May 2.

Endra said that in the last ten years (2015-2024), there were two dams in West Sumbawa, namely Bintang Bano and Tiu Sun.

In addition, there are two in Dompu Regency, namely Mila and Tanju Dams, Sila Dams in Bima Regency, and Meninting Dams in West Lombok.

"There are 12 dams in NTB Province," he said.

As a national food barn area, dam construction is very important for the sustainability of the food barn area.

"So before President Jokowi, there were six of them already owned by NTB. There is Batu Jai, Pengga in Central Lombok and is on Sumbawa Island. The point is we will make sure that the food barn area is maintained," said Endra.

He explained that the construction of the six dams also functions to reduce the risk of flooding that often hit several areas in NTB.

One of the areas that often floods in Taliwang City, West Sumbawa Regency.

"In Brang Rea, the water often overflows to the city of Taliwang (West Sumbawa), the flood. With the Tiu Sun Dam to be inaugurated later, flooding will decrease in Taliwang," he explained.

However, the construction of the six dams on the islands of Sumbawa and Lombok could not directly deal with flooding.

"Yes, hopefully the floods can be reduced. Because in 2017 the city of Taliwang was submerged. Hopefully with the Bano and Tiu Sukang Dams, there will be a lot of flooding, unlike in 2017," said Endra.

In addition to preventing floods, irrigation to food storage areas in agricultural areas, the construction of six dams in NTB can also be used as tourist areas.

Such as the Bintang Bano dam, West Sumbawa and the Meninting Dam in West Lombok.

"This ranking is close to the city of Mataram. So apart from the irrigation function there, the "view" is very good, so it is suitable for tourism," he said.