Hatta Rajasa.
Purwakarta, W Java (ANTARA News) - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said the government is paying serious attention to dams and will always try to increase their functions.
"Dams are currently used not merely to generate electricity or irrigate rice fields, but their function has increased to promote the people`s welfare," he said when conducting a Ramadhan Safari at Ir H. Djuanda Jatiluhur Dam in Purwakarta on Saturday.
Hatta was during the Ramadhan Safari accompanied by Agriculture Minister Suswono, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad and Deputy Trade Minister Mahendra Siregar.
He said the government was paying great attention to what had become its working program with the ultimate goal of promoting the people`s living standard.
"In this context, the government is concentrating the event at Ir H Djuanda dam as dams can also promote the people`s welfare," he said.
The minister admitted that many people often called the dam Jatiluhur instead of Ir H. Djuanda. He expressed regret over the fact that many people still did not know Ir H. Djuanda dam.
He said Ir H. Djuanda was a prominent figure from West Java who opined that the Indonesian waters did not function as "separator" of one area to another. Ir H. Djuanda later put the idea in a so-called Djuanda Declaration which was later acknowledged by the world.
"I am rather sad to hear that the dam is not well-known as Ir H. Djuanda. We must familiarize the people with Djuanda dam instead of Jatiluhur dam," he said.
