Try opens new dam in Sumbawa

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)