Try opens new dam in Sumbawa

SUMBAWA, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): A new multi-purpose dam on this once arid island, inaugurated by Vice President Try Sutrisno on Saturday, is expected to further strengthen East Nusa Tenggara's status as a net exporter of rice.

The Tiukulit dam, which covers an area of 120 hectares, will be chiefly used to irrigate a total of 1,800 hectares of ricefields in four surrounding villages, as well as to propel the hydropower plant that will provide power to the area.

The dam will also serve to contain floods which recurrently ravage the area and disrupt the water supply to local fisheries. The government spent around Rp 25 billion ($12 million) to build the facility, with part of the money obtained through Japanese aid.

The province, that also includes the Lombok island, became self-sufficient in rice in 1985 thanks in large to the construction of dams on many of the islands that make up the East Nusa Tenggara. It has since maintained its status as a net exporter of Indonesia's staple crop.

Try (waving his hand in above photo) in his speech urged the local farmers to make use of the facility to enhance their productivity.

Try was accompanied during the trip here by his wife and a number of cabinet ministers. (alx/emb)