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The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) is constructing Jenelata Dam in Gowa district, South Sulawesi, to optimize flood control in Makassar city. (ANTARA/HO-Kementerian PUPR) - 

VOInews, Jaarta : The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) is building the Jenelata Dam in Gowa district, South Sulawesi, to optimize flood control in Makassar city in the province.

PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said that the construction of dams and reservoirs for water storage in various regions of Indonesia is a real effort to overcome the threat of climate change, especially extreme weather.

Hadimuljono noted that the government has increased water storage, both in reservoirs and dams, to face the threat of climate change.

"We prioritize dams so that during the dry season, there are still quite large water reserves. And in the rainy season, it can become sufficient storage that effectively restrains flood discharge," Hadimuljono explained in Jakarta on Thursday.

The construction of the dam is primarily aimed at optimizing flood control in Makassar city, which has so far solely relied on Bili-Bili Dam, which has a capacity of 375 million cubic meters and was completed in 1997, for the purpose.

The largest dam in South Sulawesi, Bili-Bili Dam is no longer adequate for holding water to control floods when there is heavy rainfall, as seen in 2019, when the impact of flooding was felt in Makassar city.

Jenelata Dam is expected to help hold back the overflow from Jenelata River, which flows down to Jeneberang River, so that it can supplement Bili-Bili Dam, which also dams the upstream Jeneberang River, in flood control.

It is hoped that Jenelata Dam will be more optimal in reducing flooding in Makassar city and supporting water needs during drought.

Jenelata Dam will also function as a source of irrigation water for 26,773 hectares (ha) of agricultural land: 2,400 ha in the Bili-Bili Irrigation Area (D.I), 13,916 ha in D.I. Bissua, and 10,457 ha in D.I. Kampili.

The dam will also serve as a source of water supply with a capacity of 6.05 cubic meters per second for Bili-Bili, Jenelata, sugar factories, and sugar cane fields in Takalar, and the Sungguminasa Intake.

With a storage capacity of 223.6 million cubic meters, the dam also has the potential for hydroelectric power generation of 7 MW as well as water and culinary tourism.

The construction work on the dam is being carried out by PT Adhi Karya (ADHI) along with PT Wijaya Karya and China's KSO CAMC Engineering Co. Ltd. The value of the construction contract is pegged at Rp4.1 trillion (253.5 million US dollars).

Construction work on the dam has been carried out since October 2023 and is planned to be completed in 2028, with work on the excavation of the main dam and spillway area currently underway//ANTARA-VOI