East Java Farmers Demand Resumption of Dam Construction
Wednesday, 25 November, 2009 | 16:08 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Hundreds of farmers from different villages in East Java staged a rally to urge the government to resume an abandoned dam project in the region. Farmers from Madiun and Wungu regency demanded the Kersek Dam construction should be continued to improve productivity.

Farmers pushing to enter the compound of the regional parliament office of Madiun Regency, faced with police baricades and resistance which caused the fence of the compound almost fell.

A farmer from Mojopurno Administrative Village, Supriyadi, 40 said harvest season in without the dam was twice a year while with support of a dam farmers in the region could produce rice three times a year.

Farmers suspected the project was abandoned as the budget is being used to build another dam in other region. The planned dam was projected to provide water for hundreds of hectares of rice fields in three subdistricts - Wungu, Dagangan, and Geger.

ANANG ZAKARIA