President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Thursday, August 29, 2024 inaugurated the Rp3.5 trillion (US$226 million) Leuwikeris Dam in Tasikmalaya, West Java, considerably the most expensive dam built during his presidency.
“Out of the 45 dams I have inaugurated, this one has required the most significant investment,” Jokowi remarked, as reported on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel.
The construction of the Leuwikeris Dam began in 2016 and was completed this year, marking an eight-year journey to bring the project to fruition. The dam boasts a capacity of 81 million cubic meters, significantly larger than other dams constructed during Jokowi’s term. Typically, the cost for building a dam has ranged between Rp800 billion and Rp1.5 trillion.
Covering a reservoir area of 245 hectares, the Leuwikeris Dam is designed to irrigate approximately 11,200 hectares of agricultural land, providing substantial benefits to local farmers and enhancing regional water security.
Jokowi also announced that the government plans to inaugurate eight more dams before the end of his presidency, which will bring the total number of dams inaugurated during his tenure to 53.
The Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) has initiated the initial filling process, known as impounding, for the Leuwikeris Dam, aiming to strengthen water resilience in West Java.
PUPR minister Basuki Hadimuljono said that the Leuwikeris Dam aims to increase water storage capacity to ensure a reliable supply of irrigation water for agricultural land, provide raw water, and reduce the risk of flooding.
“The Citanduy River currently has no dam. Once the Leuwikeris Dam is fully operational, it will ensure a continuous water supply to the rice fields, which have frequently faced flooding during the rainy season and water shortages during the dry season,” Basuki said on August 21, 2024 as quoted by Antara.
While the cost of constructing the Leuwikeris Dam is substantial, it remains below the Rp6.5 trillion required to build the Jatigede Dam in Sumedang, West Java.
However, construction on Jatigede began during President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s administration and was completed in 2015.
The completion of the Leuwikeris Dam underscores the government’s commitment to improving water infrastructure, which is crucial for supporting agricultural productivity and mitigating flood risks in Indonesia.
