Kuwil Kawangkoan Dam Worth IDR 1.9 Trillion Expected To Prevent Manado Flash Floods

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo hopes that the existence of the Kuwil Kawangkoan Dam in North Mihanasa, North Sulawesi, can help prevent the flash floods that occurred in 2014 in Manado.

"Because this is above Manado, so if it is not stopped here, the water can run away and can cause Manado to flood like I remember in 2014 Manado was a flash flood," the President said in his remarks at the inauguration of the dam in North Minahasa, North Sulawesi, Thursday, as monitored on the Presidential Secretariat's Youtube live broadcast from Jakarta.

The President said that the Kawangkoan Kowil Dam was built in 2016 with a budget of IDR 1.9 trillion, and has a capacity of 26 million cubic meters with an inundation area of ​​157 hectares.

"Later it can be used to generate electricity and then reduce existing floods, especially in Manado and also for agriculture," Jokowi said, Thursday, January 19, as quoted by Antara.

He said the dam could be used for a micro-hydro power plant that produces 0.70 Megawatts of electricity twice.

“Even though it's small, it can become a micro-hydro power plant. I guess it is. And by saying bismillahirohmanirrohim, this morning I inaugurated the Kuwil Kawangkoan Dam in North Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi," he said.