Golkar Faction Holds Hearing on Lahor Dam Access in Blitar
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The chairman of the Golkar Party faction in the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), M. Sarmuji, received an audience with the president director of Perum Jasa Tirta I, Fahmi Hidayat, and his staff at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday.
The audience discussed the policy of closing road access across Lahor Dam in Malang Regency, East Java, which has been in effect since 1 August 2026 and has drawn protests from residents.
Sarmuji, a legislator from the East Java VI electoral district covering Blitar, Kediri, Trenggalek and Tulungagung, had previously received residents’ aspirations directly during a visit to Blitar on 31 July 2026 and promised to follow up with Perum Jasa Tirta I as the dam operator.
“I received the residents’ aspirations because access to the Lahor Dam road has been closed. If it is not for security or safety considerations, in accordance with the letter I sent, please open it but with a time limitation scheme. If it is completely closed, it will cause congestion on the main road and disrupt the economy. We must find other options so that the public is not too severely affected,” Sarmuji said in his statement.
Perum Jasa Tirta I then explained that the imposition of traffic access restrictions on the crest of Lahor Dam, which connects Malang Regency and Blitar Regency, was a mitigation and protection measure for the dam, which has the status of a National Vital Object.
The policy has triggered complaints from residents because it is considered to hamper activity and disrupt the economy in the two regions.
Sarmuji stressed that although residents’ aspirations are important to consider, the safety aspect cannot be set aside.
“We agree that safety and security are important, because if not, we are concerned that it will become a major problem in the future,” he said.
President Director of Perum Jasa Tirta I Fahmi Hidayat explained that the access closure was carried out because Lahor Dam, which was built in 1973 and began operating in 1977, is currently undergoing a review process for an operating permit extension.
He explained that the process was urgent after a number of crack points were found in the dam’s construction.
“As it ages, its strength weakens. The construction and materials used when it was built were not as good and as sophisticated as they are today,” Fahmi said.
He added that his team is currently installing various monitoring instruments to support the review process, so the dam must be free from motorised vehicle traffic so that the instruments are not disturbed.
According to Fahmi, this step is part of maintenance so that the existing dam can continue to be used, including maintaining its functions for irrigation, flood control, power generation and water storage.
He also mentioned the spread of inaccurate information by a number of parties, including business operators in Blitar and Malang, who mobilised crowds to dismantle the road closure.
Nevertheless, he stressed that his side does not dismiss residents’ aspirations, including those who have businesses around the dam area.
Responding to the explanation, Sarmuji said the policy should have been communicated earlier to the public so that they understand the importance of security and safety factors, while also being accompanied by the provision of alternative options before the policy was implemented.
He reminded that the impact of this policy is not only felt by business operators, but also by students who attend schools across the Blitar-Malang border.
Sarmuji, who is also Secretary General of the Golkar Party, welcomed the limited opening and closing scheme as a middle ground.
Access can be used until 10.00 pm Western Indonesia Time and reopened at 4.00 am, with a symbolic tariff of Rp1 through an electronic money card.
He also stressed that total closure is ultimately unavoidable given that the dam has reached 50 years of age, so the activation of the inspection road, including its strengthening and widening, needs to be carried out immediately.
During the transition period to the inspection route, Sarmuji requested a time limitation on the use of Lahor Dam for public traffic while accelerating alternative solutions.
“We must find short-term, medium-term and long-term solutions,” Sarmuji said.
According to him, the limited opening and closing scheme can be a short-term solution, accelerating the inspection road as a medium-term solution, and building bridges and widening the Blitar and Malang roads as a long-term solution.
On the same occasion, member of Commission V of the DPR RI from the Golkar Party faction, Hamka B. Kady, said that he had communicated with relevant parties at the Ministry of Public Works, including the Directorate General of Water Resources regarding the management of Lahor Dam and the Directorate General of Highways regarding road management.
“The dam is old, it must be guarded and maintained so that it can continue to be used for as long as possible. The solution is that road access across Lahor Dam should not be permanently closed, but a limited opening and closing scheme should be applied, according to conditions, while the inspection road is widened and strengthened. Gradually, four-wheeled vehicle access will be reduced,” Hamka said.
He stressed that the main principle is that the dam maintenance policy must not sacrifice the interests of the community around Lahor Dam.