Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated the Karalloe Dam, built with a budget of Rp1.27 trillion, in Tompobulu Sub-district, Gowa District, South Sulawesi Province, on Tuesday.

“Alhamdulillah (all praises be to Allah), today, the Karalloe Dam has been completed and is ready to be inaugurated,” he remarked as monitored from the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel here on Tuesday.

Jokowi noted that the dam will be used to irrigate seven thousand hectares of agricultural land in Jeneponto District.

“Indeed, the dam is located in Gowa District. However, it will benefit the farmers in Jeneponto District, as seven thousand hectares of land is a very large area,” he stated.

According to Jokowi, with the dam being built, farmers, who earlier only planted rice and secondary crop — locally known as ‘palawija’ — once a year, could henceforth grow rice twice and the secondary crop once annually.

“Thus, it will improve the farmers’ income and welfare,” he affirmed.

In addition, he expected that the dam will reduce flooding.

“A huge flood hit Jeneponto District in 2019. The Karalloe Dam will be able to reduce the likelihood of flooding by 49 percent,” he stated.

In addition to irrigating the agricultural lands, the water stored in Karalloe Dam will be used for operating hydroelectric power plants that will further benefit the community.

“Finally, by saying Bismillahirohmanirohim (in the name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful), today, I inaugurate the Karalloe Dam. Thank you,” the president noted while closing his speech.

Inauguration of the dam was marked by the opening of the sluice gate and the signing of an inscription by the president.

Amid his working visit to the province, President Jokowi was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo, and other related officials.

Source: Antara News