Dam to be built at Ciawi

BOGOR: In an attempt to control flooding, Ciawi district, Bogor regency, plans to build a dam whose capacity will reach 16 million cubic meters of water next year.

Ministry of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure Director General of Water Resources Wahyu Hartomo, who is also head of the project, said on Friday that the dam was expected to control water flowing to Jakarta.

"We have to be extremely careful in building the dam because a minor mistake could result in a breach of the dam that could inundate Bogor," he said.

Besides flood control, the dam is also expected to serve as a water reservoir for Jakarta, Depok and Bogor. It will also serve as an irrigation facility, power plant and tourism site.

A total of 130 hectares of land will be cleared, at a total cost of Rp 200 million (US$23,809). Dam construction will cost around Rp 600 billion.

"The project is still in the planning stage. Once it is more decided, we'll disseminate the information to the public," Wahyu said.

The dam is to be built in Ciawi because the district encompasses the upper reaches of the Ciliwung river, an ideal position for a dam. -- JP