Add Irrigation Services, Ministry Of Public Works Will Build Semantok Intake Channel Worth IDR 67 Billion

Semantok Dam In Nganjuk Regency, East Java/DOK KemenPU

The Ministry of Public Works (PU) will increase the coverage of rice fields served by irrigation networks from the Semantok Dam in Nganjuk Regency, East Java.

One way to do this is by building the Left Intake channel to the Irrigation Area (DI) Ngomben.

PU Minister Dody Hanggodo said his party would build the intake channel with a budget of IDR 67 billion.

"At TA 2025, the Ministry of Public Works through the Brantas River Basin Center (BBWS) will build an irrigation channel for Semantok Kiri with a budget of Rp. 67 billion," said Dody in a written statement quoted on Saturday, November 23.

With the Semantok Kiri irrigation channel, Dody hopes that there will be an additional 499 hectares (ha) of watered agricultural areas. In fact, he targets all agricultural land to be watered.

"God willing, all expectations can be achieved in stages. We will continue to coordinate with the farmer's ensemble/coupling," he said.

Currently, the Semantok Dam has served irrigation through Intake Kanan to a rice field area of around 1,906 ha in Rejoso District, Nganjuk Regency.

In addition, the Semantok Dam also has a capacity of 23 million cubic meters sourced from the Semantok River with an inundation area of 365 ha.

It is known that this dam was inaugurated by the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in December 2022 and provided benefits after two years of planting season, even in the dry season.