Jakarta. Within a decade of presidency, Indonesia’s outgoing leader Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has led massive infrastructure development as seen in the addition of over 40 dams spread across the archipelago.

Jokowi has admitted that the water crisis that had struck other countries was the reason behind his non-stop dam construction. Jokowi is banking on these dams to help provide water for farmers amidst the warming global temperatures as populous Indonesia tries to feed its population. The dams are also part of the government’s strategy to control flooding. 

The government typically sets aside over Rp 1 trillion ($113.3 million) to create a dam and even grants the dams the so-called “national strategic project” status -- thus highlighting how much their development matters to Jokowi. Many of these dams lie in regions outside of Java, which aligns with Jokowi's determination to expand development programs more evenly across the nation.

Most recently, Jokowi inaugurated the Lausimeme dam in North Sumatra on Wednesday, which cost the government around Rp 1.76 trillion. This became the 47th dam that Jokowi had inaugurated over the past decade. The Lau Simeme dam -- which holds a 21 million cubic meters capacity -- is set to suppress flooding in Medan and Deli Serdang in addition to helping water the nearby paddy fields.

Earlier this month, Jokowi launched the Temef dam in East Nusa Tenggara. The government had spent Rp 2.7 trillion to build the dam that boasted a capacity of 45 million cubic meters of water. The most expensive dam that Jokowi had ever constructed so far was West Java’s Leuwikeris dam which cost approximately Rp 3.5 trillion.

But Jokowi didn't dare to hold back on the spending for the sake of dams because of how important water is to the people.

“Water is the source of life. Water is a symbol of balance and harmony. However, if not managed properly, water can be a disaster. Without water, there is no life. Without water, there is no food. Therefore, we must manage water properly because every drop is very valuable,” Jokowi said at the time when inaugurating the Leuwikeris dam.

More dams are set to come until the end of the year, although with only a few days away from retirement, it is likely that it will be Jokowi’s successor Prabowo Subianto that inaugurates the remaining projects that are still under construction. Jokowi said recently Indonesia would have a total of 61 dams by the end of the year.

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