NTB Residents Protest 'Mysterious' Land Compensation of Rp 8 Million for Meninting Dam Project
Residents affected by the Meninting Dam in West Lombok visited the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building on Thursday (13/8/2026) to protest the compensation for their land, which they deem disproportionate to the current market price of replacement land.
Suryani, a resident of Dasan Geria village, stated that their house plots were valued at only Rp 8 million per are. Meanwhile, the cost of purchasing replacement land for relocation is now reaching Rp 50 million per are. ‘The compensation money from the government is not enough to sustain our lives and buy a new place to live. It is not feasible, in my opinion it is not feasible,’ Suryani asserted at the NTB DPRD building on Thursday.
Unfortunately, the residents’ visit to the DPRD building did not yield positive results. No council members met with them, citing administrative obstacles. Suryani had intended to explain the stark disparity between the compensation value received by residents and the current market price of land. ‘The nominal amount for a house plot is Rp 8 million, whereas for us to buy land to relocate costs Rp 50 million (per are),’ she explained.
Suryani added that the dam project not only displaced homes but also swallowed up the community’s sources of livelihood. Rice fields and gardens that were the backbone of the local economy are now the site of the Meninting Dam, which holds millions of cubic metres of water. ‘Everything was taken, the gardens, rice fields, houses, yards, all of it is gone. And now we can only afford to buy a house plot,’ she lamented.
She revealed that the determination of the compensation amount seemed to be concealed from the start. Although there was a discussion forum before the eviction, the exact figure was never disclosed to the public. ‘There was a discussion before we were evicted, but we were never told the nominal amount. It was very mysterious,’ she said.
This compensation issue has been protracted since the start of construction in 2018. Although the Meninting Dam has now been completed and inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto, residents are still demanding justice. They hope the government will provide business land around the dam area so that their local economy can recover.
Beyond the land dispute, residents around the dam are now facing the threat of pests. A resident of Bukit Tinggi village, Suartini, complained about the influx of wild animals and pests into residential areas due to the massive land conversion. ‘Pests like flies, caterpillars, and monkeys are increasing. The likely cause is that their foraging grounds are shrinking,’ said Suartini. She added that this condition makes it increasingly difficult for residents to farm. The community is urging the Nusa Tenggara I River Basin Agency (BWS) and PT Hutama Karya to intervene and open a dialogue to resolve the land dispute and the resulting environmental impact.