Mar'ie inaugurates public works projects

Mar'ie inaugurates public works projects

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (Antara): Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad opened public works projects here yesterday worth Rp 27.7 billion (US$9.6 million).

They include a dam on Jeneberang River and clean water installations.

The 330-meter-long Jeneberang dam, to stop flooding and seawater intrusion, is the first of its type in Indonesia. It was completed seven months ahead of schedule.

The projects were financed by soft loans from the Japan Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund, said Sanapati Tarebbang, the head of the South Sulawesi public works office.

The dam system will be able to collect 500 liters of water a second, while controlling floods in southern Ujungpandang, which has suffered recurring floods.

Mar'ie told local people not to waste water because it was an expensive commodity which should always be readily available.

The Jeneberang dam would prevent floods, seawater intrusion and attract foreign tourists, Mar'ie said.

Mar'ie was flanked by South Sulawesi Governor HZB Palaguna, the director general for irrigation and several provincial officials at the inauguration.