Minister Dody Says Meninting Dam Resolves Farmer Conflicts in Lombok

Minister of Public Works (PU), Dody Hanggodo, accompanied President Prabowo Subianto at the inauguration of the Rp 1.4 trillion Meninting Dam located in West Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), on Friday (10/7/2026).

Speaking before President Prabowo Subianto, Dody affirmed that the presence of the Meninting Dam is not merely physical infrastructure development, but a tangible solution to the socio-economic problems long faced by the people of West Lombok, particularly residents of Bukit Tinggi Village, Gunungsari District.

According to Dody, before the dam was built, West Lombok was frequently hit by horizontal conflicts between farmers over access to water, especially when planting season arrived. The Meninting Dam is now able to store up to 10 million cubic metres of water.

“So those conflicts can be defused because water can now be utilised all year round,” Dody said before Prabowo and the ranks of ministers.

Dody outlined a number of immediate benefits of the Meninting Dam for the agricultural sector and community welfare. The dam will increase the number of planting seasons for farmers in West Lombok.

“So rain-fed rice fields of 1,060 hectares that previously could only be planted once a year have now increased dramatically to three planting seasons with a Planting Index (IP) of 300,” he said.

Furthermore, Dody said the Meninting Dam will boost agricultural land productivity to 6.3 tonnes of unhusked rice per hectare. The dam will also increase raw water supply, with a raw water service capacity of 0.15 cubic metres per second.

“So this dam can meet the drinking water needs of approximately 100,000 people,” he said.

Dody emphasised that the Meninting Dam, which has been under construction since 2019, also serves as a flood control facility for West Lombok Regency and Mataram City. The dam will reduce flood potential in vulnerable areas such as Gunungsari, Lingsar, Batu Layar and Ampenan districts, as well as parts of Mataram City.

“In addition, Mr President, this dam holds potential for the development of hydroelectric power, floating solar power, and the local tourism sector,” he concluded.