Gubsu Edy Complains About Obstacles To Dam Construction: Please Help Us To Acquire Land, Mr. Sofyan Djalil

North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

MEDAN - The Governor of North Sumatra (Gubsu) Edy Rahmayadi complained that the obstacles to the construction of a number of dams in the province were related to land acquisition.

"Please Mr. Sofyan A Djalil (Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency) with the issue of land acquisition for the smooth construction of dams in North Sumatra," he said in Medan, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, December 28.

According to Edy Rahmayadi, of the seven dams planned to be built by the central government in North Sumatra, only one has been realized, namely the Lau Simeme Dam in Deli Serdang. Meanwhile, the other six dam projects have not been able to run due to land acquisition constraints.

"It is so difficult to manage land in North Sumatra," said Gubsu Edy during the Handover of Land Certificates for the People of North Sumatra Province, in Medan.

Governor Edy compared other areas to have more dams than North Sumatra. West Java for example has 11 dams, East Java 18 dams, and the most in Central Java with 26 dams.

"The dam is very useful because it can irrigate millions of hectares of agricultural land, can prevent flooding, become a place of recreation, and can fulfill the needs of clean water," he said.

Edy Rahmayadi expects Minister Sofyan A Djalil to help acquire land for a dam project in North Sumatra. According to him, the construction of dams in Karo and Asahan regencies is expected to start in 2022.

The dams in Karo and Asahan will be able to irrigate a lot of agricultural land, including to anticipate flooding in the two districts.

Meanwhile, Minister Sofyan Djalil emphasized that his party is ready to help with what is needed regarding the construction of the dam.

"Ready to help, especially since North Sumatra has great potential for reservoir construction," he said.

"I pay great attention to the complaint of the Governor of North Sumatra about the obstacles to dam construction due to difficult land acquisition and the ministry is ready to help," he said.

However, he admitted that he would first look at the budget for land acquisition.

"If the funds are adequate, it will be processed immediately. If we have negotiated with the community then there is no money, the impact will be even worse," said Sofyan.

Sofyan Djalil emphasized that the construction of dams/dams is one of President Joko Widodo's flagship programs.