Soeharto will inaugurate dam

SERANG, West Java: President Soeharto is scheduled to inaugurate Pamayaran dam here next month, Antara reported over the weekend.

The news agency quoted Budi Soesilo, project officer of the dam development, as saying the new dam would replace the old one which had for some time been unable to meet increasing demand for both irrigation and drinking water.

The new dam would be able to irrigate 21,500 hectares of rice fields and 7,000 hectares of ponds in Serang district. It would also be expected to supply more fresh water to Cilegon's industrial zones.

The construction of the Pamarayan dam, equipped with computerized water flow control, cost some Rp 50 billion. (swe)