The plan for the Riam Kiwa Reservoir needs to be repeated

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Directorate General of Water Resources Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) stated the plan to develop the Riam Kiwa Dam in Banjar District needs to be re-planned.


"The statement of the Directorate General of Water Resources (SDA) was delivered when we consulted a few days ago," said Secretary of Commission III for Development and Infrastructure of South Kalimantan DPRD H Riswandi SIP here on Thursday.

"Because some problems still require solution in the construction of the Riam Kiwa," said the member of the three-term South Kalimantan DPRD from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

For example, in terms of river basin areas (DAS) Riam Kiwa protection requires coordination with related parties, despite the authority being with the central government, he continued quoting an explanation from the Directorate General of Natural Resources.

"But the Ministry of PUPR through the Directorate General of Water Resources also wants the development of Riam Kiwa based on careful planning, more carefully," he said.

According to a former Ministry of Finance employee who plunged into politics and joined the PKS in the early 2000s, the existence of the Riam Kiwa Reservoir will be multi-functional.

"The Riam Kiwa Reservoir will not only be used for agricultural development in South Kalimantan, but also as a source of raw water for drinking water companies," said the man with a Minang blood who was already thick with the Banjar language.

The reservoir will also be used as a hydroelectric power plant (PLTA), as well as a water catchment area, which in turn will control floods, said Riswandi.

Previously in the Banjar District there was the Riam Kanan Reservoir (about 62 kilometers northeast of Banjarmasin). It functions as Ir Pangeran H Mohammad Noor Hydroelectric Power Plant, also for agricultural business activities, and PDAM raw water sources.