W. Nusa Tenggara to build six dams

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: The province will build six major dams and 70 water catchment facilities in the Seventh Five-Year Development Plan (1999/2004) in efforts to meet its target of producing 1.7 million tons of unhusked rice a year.

"We have set the target at this point to be able to feed the province's population, which by 2004 is projected to reach 4.08 million," head of the provincial public works office, HM Nur Nasution, was quoted by Antara as saying yesterday.

He said the dams would be built in Pandanduri Swangi (East Lombok), Mujur (Central Lombok), Sekotong (West Lombok), Batu Bulan (Sumbawa), Campa (Dompu) and Parado (Bima).

The dams will irrigate 9,200 hectares of rice fields in East Lombok, 6,000 hectares in Central Lombok, 2,000 hectares in West Lombok, 5,200 hectares in Sumbawa, 2,700 hectares in Dompu and 2,500 hectares in Bima.

He added that in fiscal year 1998/1999, his office would build a dam in Bima district to irrigate 2,500 hectares of rice fields as well as a new irrigation system.

"With these new facilities, we hope to meet the demand for irrigation water during the Seventh Five-Year Development Plan," he said.

Up to fiscal year 1996/1997, the provincial public works office had built five dams, 340 water catchment facilities and five water tunnels.

West Nusa Tenggara has 276,846 hectares of rice fields. (swe)