The Ministry Of PUPR Targets The Mbay Dam In NTT To Be Completed By The End Of 2024

The Mbay Dam in Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). (Photo: Doc. Ministry of PUPR)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) has built the Mbay Dam in Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

The development was carried out to support the food security program and water availability in NTT Province.

Based on data from the Ministry of PUPR until June 14, 2023, the progress of the Mbay Dam construction has reached 16.01 percent and is targeted for completion by the end of 2024.

PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said water availability is the key to development in NTT which has lower rainfall than other areas.

"The construction of the dam must also be followed by the construction of an irrigation network. Thus, dams built at large costs can be useful because the water is confirmed to flow to farmers' fields," Basuki said in a written statement, Saturday, July 1.

The Mbay Dam itself was built by the Southeast Nusa Tenggara II Kupang River Basin Center, which is located in Rendubutowe Village, South Aesesa District or about 30 km from the city center of Nagekeo Regency.

This dam has an inundation area of 499.55 Ha sourced from the Aesesa River. The construction of the Mbay Dam according to the contract has been started since 2021 through 2 work packages with a contract value of IDR 1.47 trillion.

Package I was carried out by contractor PT Waskita Karya (Persero) Tbk - Bumi Indah (KSO) with 16.28 percent construction progress, while Package II by PT Brantas Abipraya with 15.73 percent progress. As Construction Management is carried out by PT Indra Karya - Design Semesta - Sabana (KSO).

The Mbay Dam has a main function as irrigation irrigation irrigation in Nagekeo Regency, where superior commodities such as rice and palawija require irrigation water sources. With a capacity of 51.74 million m3, the Mbay Dam is projected to develop and increase the Irrigation Area (DI) of Mbay Kanan and Kiri covering an area of 5,898 Ha.

This dam also has other benefits to support the raw water demand in Nagekeo by 205 liters/second and reduce the flood discharge of the Aesesa River by 283.33 m3/second.

"The construction of the Mbay Dam has increased the number of water reservoirs built by the Ministry of PUPR in supporting food and water security in NTT Province," said Basuki.

For your information, as many as three dams, namely the Raknamo Dam in Kupang Regency in 2018, the Rotiklot Dam in Belu Regency in 2019, and the Napun Gete Dam in Sikka Regency in 2021, have been completed and inaugurated by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

Then, the Manikin Dam construction is being completed in Kupang Regency, Temef Dam in South Central Timor Regency, and Kolhua Dam which is being prepared in Kupang City.