Konawe Flood: PUPR Ministry Steps Up 3 Dams Construction Project

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said that his ministry would step up the construction project of three dams in Southeast Sulawesi. He said that the plan was intended to minimize floods in the Regency.

"If the construction of the three dams is completed, we can deal with the flood and we can later build a reservoir," said Basuki while monitoring the Wawetobi Dam in Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi on Thursday, June 20, 2019.

Minister Basuki, along with a number of members of the House of Representatives (DPR) Infrastructure Commission, conducted field inspection on road and dam infrastructure affected by floods in Konawe.

The three dams mentioned by Minister Basuki are Ameroro Dam, Pelosika Dam, and Lasolo Dam. Both Ameroro and Pelosika Dams will enter the project auction stage, while Lasolo Dam had just entered the planning stage.

Based on data from Sulawesi River Basin Organization IV of the Directorate General of Water Resources in Kendari, the first two dams were targeted to be completed in 2023 and would cost IDR 1.25 trillion and IDR 4.5 trillion, respectively.

"In the near future, we will build and repair reservoirs and dams starting this year," Basuki added.

The flood in Konawe, Basuki explained, was caused by the high level of water in two main rivers of Konawe namely Konaweha and Lahumbuti. Moreover, heavy rain has been pouring over Kendari with an intensity of up to 150-300 millimeters.

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