Beautify Food RTH, Mataram City Government Builds IDR 400 Million Artificial Lakes

One of the points in the Green Open Space (RTH) of the City of Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara Province. (ANTARA)

MATARAM - The City Government (Pemkot) of Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara Province, will build an artificial lake in the Pagutan Green Open Space (RTH) with a budget of IDR 400 million. The lake was created as a supporting facility in the urban forest area.

Head of the Mataram City Environment Agency (DLH) HM Kemal Islam said the artificial lake was planned to start working after Eid al-Fitr 1444 Hijriah.

"Because construction costs a lot, so we do it gradually with the Public Works and Spatial Planning (PUPR). The first stage we will do the excavation using heavy equipment belonging to PUPR," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, March 17.

Meanwhile, physical work will be carried out after the ratification of the 2023 revised APBD, because the budget for the construction of the artificial lake will be allocated in the revised APBD with a need of around Rp. 400 million.

Kemal said the artificial lake would be built in accordance with the design that had been prepared at the Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) of Mataram City, namely a miniature of Lombok Island with an area of 1,000 square meters.

The artificial lake will be built in the eastern part of the Pagutan RTH, or in the middle of the "Becingah" (aula) and Campground Earth.

"The existence of this artificial lake can be one of the attractions for residents to come to RTH Pagutan, as a recreation center, and education," he said.

In the future, the artificial lake will be equipped with children's playing facilities such as canoeing, water bicycle rides, ducks, and others.

Meanwhile, the lake will also be released by freshwater fish seeds, so that it can be a location for the fishing competition on a regular basis for fishing enthusiasts.

"Now the bird-loving community has started to carry out various activities in the Pagutan green open space. Therefore, in the future, the Pagutan green open space will be increasingly recognized and visited by many residents," he said.

Kemal added, the arrangement and addition of facilities at RTH Pagutan as part of equitable development in six sub-districts throughout Mataram City as well as to break up the crowd center in this city.*