Sepaku Dam Built For IKN, Minister Of PUPR: If You Can't Drink Water Directly, It's Useless To Move The Capital City

Photo via Cabinet Secretariat Twitter @setkabgoid

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that basic construction in the Capital of the Archipelago (IKN) had begun along with the construction of the Sepaku Semoi Dam and Mentawir Nursery, North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan (Kaltim).

“The existence of this dam shows that basic infrastructure development has started. In July, the construction of the main road from the Balikpapan toll road will also begin," said President Jokowi while reviewing the construction of the Sepaku Semoi Dam, Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, Wednesday, June 22, quoted from an official statement from the Presidential Secretariat.

said the President, the existence of the Mentawir Nursery also emphasized that the development at IKN also pays attention to environmental sustainability.

Furthermore, the President requested that the construction of the Sepaku Semoi Dam be completed faster than planned. The dam was originally set to be completed in December 2023, but the Director General of Water Resources of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, Jarot Widyoko, agreed to complete it in early 2023.

"With the acceleration, we are targeting to finish in January or February 2023," said Jarot.

Another thing that was conveyed by the President was that raw water from the Sepaku Semoi Dam will be processed to supply the water needs of 1.5 million people.

"The water that is distributed is ready-to-drink water," said the President.

The Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, Basuki Hadimulyono, said the same thing.

"If (water) can't be drunk directly, it's useless for us to move (the capital city)," said Basuki.

Also present at the review of the Sepaku Semoi Dam were the Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives Puan Maharani, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia, Head of the IKN Authority Agency Bambang Susantono, and East Kalimantan Governor Isran Noor.