New reservoir in Lombok

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: The arid area of southern Lombok will have irrigation available with the completion of the Rp 40 billion ($19 million) Pengga dam. The dam is capable of providing water for 3,600 hectares of rice fields.

Head of West Nusa Tenggara Public Works Office, Suhadi, said President Soeharto is scheduled to inaugurate the reservoir today (Saturday) when he visits the Lombok island in connection with the commemoration of the World Food Day.

Southern Lombok has repeatedly seen part of its crops fail in the past because of erratic rainfalls. The dam construction is partly funded by the World Bank. (emb)