REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MERAUKE -- The Water Natural Resources Directorate General of the Public Works and Housing Ministry plans to build a dam in Papua, an official said.

Head of Dam Center Directorate Imam Santoso said President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) wants to build 65 new dams all over the country. "I have proposed to the president and the minister to build one in Papua," Imam said here on Wednesday.

Papua has a number of big rivers highly potential for dam project, he said. Studies would be carried out soon to select the best location for the water reservoir.

"I will carry out the study at the rivers of Digul and Mamberamo. We will see which of the two more suitable for the project," he said.

He said hopefully work would start to build the dam in 2017 or 2018 by the central government. Regent of Merauke Sularso expressed pleasure with the plan, saying with the dam Merauke's problem of shortage in clean water supply could be overcome.

"We hope that the plan could be carried out as soon as possible. Apart from serving as a source of clean water supply, the dam could be place for recreation for local people," he said.

He said hopefully the river is not yet polluted waste from Papua New Guinea. He said in the regency of Merauke there are a number of rivers with upstream in the neighboring countries such as Bian, Sakiramke, Digoel and Fly Rivers.

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