Inaugurating Paselloreng Dam In Wajo, South Sulawesi, Jokowi: Can Be Used For Tourism

President Joko Widodo inaugurated Paselloreng Dam and Gilireng Dam (Photo: Youtube Presidential Secretariat)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo inaugurated the Paselloreng Dam and Gilireng Weir in Arajang Village, Gilireng District, Wajo Regency, South Sulawesi.

The dam, which was built at a cost of Rp. 771 billion, has a very large capacity of 138 million cubic meters and an inundation area of 1,258 hectares.

"Alhamdulillah, the Paselloreng Dam in Wajo Regency, South Sulawesi Province, which was built [since] in 2015 has now been completed and is ready to be used," said Jokowi during the inauguration, seen from the Presidential Secretariat Youtube broadcast, Thursday, September 9.

Jokowi said the Paselloreng Dam also functions for conservation and tourism, in addition to storing water.

"It also functions, of course, for conservation, conservation areas that can be used for tourism and provide new income alternatives for the community," said Jokowi.

Jokowi believes that the existence of this infrastructure will be very useful to support South Sulawesi as a national food barn. This is because the dam is capable of irrigating 8,500 hectares of rice fields.

"We hope that the existing water supply will increase the frequency of planting which may be one, maybe three or two [times] so as to increase land productivity and ultimately we can hope to improve the welfare of farmers," he said.

In addition to supporting the agricultural sector, this multifunctional dam is also useful for supporting water security, reducing the Gilireng River flood by 489 cubic meters per second, and providing raw water of 145 liters per second which will serve six sub-districts in Wajo Regency.

Furthermore, Jokowi emphasized that to realize national food security, irrigation water supply is needed, and to meet this need, it is necessary to have as many dams as possible to provide a sustainable water supply.

Therefore, the government continues to build dams in various areas in the country.

“This year, 17 dams will be completed and have been completed by December. We hope that with these existing dams, dams, dams, once again, we will be able to strengthen our food security and improve it,” he concluded.