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The Sermo Dam Experience, Indonesia Community Development as Key
Success for Dam
Project Implementation and Operation
Vicky Ariyanti, ST, M.Sc, M.Eng, Ir. Rani Sjamsinarsi, MT, Andie
Arif Wicaksono, ST,MT Ministry of Public Works, Public
Works-Housing and Mineral Resources Agency of
Yogyakarta Special Region, Universitas Teknologi Yogyakarta
ABSTRACT The need for water reservoirs in the world keeps rising,
while winning the heart of the people to support this idea is
getting more and more difficult. Sermo dam is an experience in
Indonesia, where the idea was loved and supported by the community.
The key success of this project laid on community participation and
development along with building communitys trust. Social approaches
and social sciences played important role as the project is taking
away homes and lands of the people. Sermo Dam is a medium scale dam
with the only governor decree for its management in Indonesia,
situated in Kulonprogo regency of Yogyakarta Special Region, 20km
from the heart of Yogyakarta city. It was built to answer climate
change challenges, due to lack of fresh water in Kulonprogo
regency, flooding in downstream area of Serang river and
environmental degradation in the surrounding area. Inundation area
included around 2 million m2 in Hargowilis Village, Kokap Distric.
The dam stores water effectively at 21.9 million m3 from Ngrancah
tributary in Serang River basin. Its usage includes securing water
supply at 60 liter/sec, irrigation supply of Kalibawang system at
0.12 to 1.5m3/second, tourism activity, limited fishery industry,
and potential for micro-hydro. When the project came forward,
through good mediation and positive governors support (which is in
this case the Sultan of Yogyakarta), the community accepted and
embraced this idea. The idea of community participation imbedded on
the sustainability concept, namely Hamemayu Hayuning Bawana as
envisioned in the local governments development philosophy. The
community was involved since early stage of planning, during
project construction and even now as part of operation and
maintenance team. This paper explained and shared experience of
Sermo Dam as an action in response to climate change challenges
with the support of its community. Keywords: climate change,
community, participation, development, social approach, hamemayu
concept INTRODUCTION Yogyakarta Special Region is indeed special in
treating its only large reservoir; Sermo. Given the Governors
Decree since 2009 has made it more special as the only reservoir in
Indonesia which has a Decree in managing and running its function.
This region was long ago started as a Kingdom of Mataram, where the
King or Sultan reigned for a life time. This tradition holds
through and the Sultan now also the Governor. The Kingdom had long
time ago used the philosophy of Hamemayu Hayuning Bawana as its
vision and this is adopted into the Local Governments development
philosophy (Maryono, 2013). Hamemayu concept states that
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human living on this world has to conserve the beauty and the
grace of Gods creation. In the terminology Bawana which is the
world, Maryono also considers seven aspects that form this world;
water (tirto), forest (wono), sea (samodro), air (howo), land
(bantolo), culture (budoyo), human (manungsa). In our context with
Sermo Dam, the aspect of water holds main function, while the rest
would be its supporting foundations. In order to conserve water and
nature, human activities needed to be limited respecting reservoir
as an entity to support this idea. Therefore when this philosophy
is learnt as the basic community guidance, they except the term and
let their land taken in order to let the dam being built. However,
this is not without struggle, as lessons are learnt in later part
of this paper how stages and steps were done to omit any negative
losses. Sermo is located Hargowillis village, Kulonprogo Regency
(Figure 1 Location); most part of the inundation area was
attributed to settlements and farm lands. This dam functions as
reservoir, mainly for irrigation to supply Kalibawang System
(7,125Ha), flood control and public water supply (60 liter/second).
Hydro power potential in the form of micro-hydro generator exists,
although has not been implemented and electricity needs for the
surrounding area is still much needed. Sermos catchment of about 22
km2 is a part of Serang River Basin, at its Sub-Basin Ngrancah.
Three tributaries runs into Ngrancah, namely Lurung, Bengkok and
Gelo.
Figure 1. Location
Source: Google Map, 2015 Irrigated lands that depended upon
Sermo reservoir:
Irrigation Area Total Area (Ha) Cropping Intensity (%)
Kalibawang 2,877 293
Papah 983 200 Clereng 150 200 Kamal 80 200
Pengasih 2,035 200 Pekikjamal 1,027 200
Total 7,152 240 Table 1. Sermo Irrigated Lands
Source: BBWS SO, 2013 Water quality of Sermo is of Class II and
III determined by Govenors Decree No. 20/2008 (see table 2 for
details). Therefore a water treatment plant is needed to improve
its quality before distribution to the people. This service is
provided through PDAM Kulonprogo to distribute 60 liter/second of
treated water to Kokap District which covers 80.35% of distribution
targets or 19,184 inhabitants (BBWS SO, 2013).
Sermo Dam
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The factor in which Sermo functions better than any other dam in
Indonesia and was declared as the best managed dam in Inonesia
(Suara Pembaruan, 2013) would be the relatively low sedimentation
rate that flows into the reservoir. This is due to good condition
of catchment area in the form of greenbelt and also dam operation
manual during flood determines that water intake gate must be open
during flood in order to flush the sediment. This condition is
supported by community participation in the area that taking care
of greenbelt condition in lushly green and healthy state.
: Sermo Elevation :: Progo Opak Serang Initiator : BBWS SO:
Yogyakarta Special Region Laboratory : Hidrology & Water
Quality Lab: Kulonprogo/Kokap
49M 0402736 9135025I II III I II
10 Agust 2010 21 Sept 2011 6 Des 201212.10 12.10 13.30
Unit1 Temperature Celcius Degrees 30.6 29 30.62 Conductivity
Umhos/cm 163.5 160.3 159.533 Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) mg/l 344
105 204 1000 10004 Salinity %5 Turbidity mg/l 2.5 3.06 3.99 - -6 pH
- 7.46 6.66 7.04 5.5-6 6-97 Alkalinity mg/l CaCO38 Acidity mg/l
CO29 Dissolved Oxygen mg/l 7.2 6.3 7.39 5 >5
10 DO mg/l 16.1 10.3 6 5 >511 COD mg/l 3.24 5.41 16.06 25
2512 BOD mg/l 0.1 1.6 0.14 3 313 Chloride (Cl) mg/l14 Nitrate (NO3)
mg/l15 Nitrite (NO2) mg/l16 Sulphate (SO4) mg/l17 Ferum (Fe) mg/l
0.777 1.4 0.026 - -18 Cupprum (Cu) mg/l19 Coliforms Collony/100ml20
Total Suspended Solid (TSS) mg/l 11 1.2 39.5 50 5021 Water Hardness
mg/l22 Calcium (Ca) mg/l23 Magnesium (Mg) mg/l24 Potassium
Permanganate(KMnO4) mg/l25 Orthophosphoric Acid mg/l26 Amonium
(NH4) mg/l 0.746
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Figure 2 : Dam Situation dan Section Source: Mac Donald &
Partner, 1980 METHODOLOGY In order to explore community development
in Sermo Reservoir, this study uses qualitative method, by means of
conducting historical research background, literature study and
field study. Field study was done in the area of Sermo,
contributing 5 respondents to each 4 locations around Sermo
Reservoirs. Combined, the results will be analysis findings; these
would then be concluded in the end of the paper. Figure 2a :
Methodology Source: Writer, 2015 SERMOS HISTORY Sermo starts with
an idea to irrigate farm lands that have limited water in Serang
River basin. Due to the rivers characteristic, morphology and
geohydrology condition; water during rainy season flows and flooded
much of its basin, while during dry season very small amount stays.
The studies start as early as 1960 and the final decision of the
design was approved in 1994. Table 3 explains in details of studies
related to Sermo.
Year Study/Plan By 1960 Kulonprogo Irrigation Outline PT. Indah
Karya 1970 Kali Progo Basin Study Mac Donald & Partner 1979
Sermo and Sambiroto Dams Pre- Feasibility Report Mac Donald &
Partner 1980 Sermo and Sambiroto Dams Feasibility Report, Main
Report Mac Donald & Partner
1984 Greater Yogyakarta Ground Water Resources Study Main
Report
Mac Donald & Partner
1985 Detail Design Work of Sermo Dam Project Main Report PT.
Indra Karya 1990 Design Review of Opak Serang Irrigation
Rehabilitation
Project Design Review of Sermo Dam PT. Indra Karya
1990 Agro Institutional Profiles for Clereng, Pengasih,
Pekikjamal, Kalibawang, Donomulyo, Penjalin and Papah Irrigation
Schemes and for Sermo Dam
PT. Puser Bumi
1991 Survey Investigation and Review Study on Semo Dam, PT.
Indra Karya
History
Literature
Field Study
Analysis: Community
Development
Findings
Conclusion
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Opak Serang Irrigation Sub-Project, Yogyakarta Review Study
Project
1994 Sermo Dam Spillway Model Test, Yogyakarta Puslitbang
Pengairan 1994 Downstream/Outlet Infrastructure Report Team Fact
Finding, Ditjen.
Pengairan 1994 Short Visit Report to Sermo Dam, DIY Puslitbang
Pengairan 1994 Final Report on Design of Sermo Dam &
Appurtenant
Structures ELC
Table 3. Sermo Related Studies Source: Writer Compilation,
2015
Sermo was a part of Sermo - Sambiroto Dams Plan, which given a
result to be a duo reservoirs to water more lands and provide
sustainable water reserves. Sermo was then chosen to be the first
to be built, while Sambiroto never got it chance to be built. The
construction takes up about 3 years begin in 1994 until 1996, which
was fortunately, under Soeharto Regime. During the relocation
phase, as many as 556 families were freed of their land, upon which
100 families incorporated in transmigration to Taktoi, Bengkulu in
Sumatera, 7 families move to Riau in a palm oil plantation, while
the rest stayed in surrounding villages. Inundated land of 219.5 Ha
or 2,195,000 m2 was the result of this relocation (Wulandari,
2007). WINNING COMMUNITYS TRUST This part of study is done through
literature and field study. The heart of community lays in favor of
political condition during which Sermo was built under the Soeharto
Regime had contributed to obedience of inhabitants. However, more
emphasized was given due to the way people were respected as a
person and culturally acknowledged. The Hamemayu philosophy that
originate in Yogyakarta Special Regions local government vision and
embedded in the heart and soul of the people also help to
characterize the inhabitants to be wiser in terms of conserving the
nature. They learnt it as values pass down between generations from
the old Mataram Kingdom (Wagiran, 2012). Given this background as
an asset, working to aim at communitys trust would be alluring
their social capital as an identified community in Sermo to set
course in rethinking about their surroundings, it potentials and
also their own capacity as a person not merely rural farmers.
Rethinking process in a community helps them defining their asses,
create new options, with base of underlying issues and problems, in
this case losing their homes and farm lands (Cavaye,2001), even
identity as a village inhabitants that would submerge bellow
reservoirs water. However, to be actually winning communitys trust,
initiators of Sermo Dam project has included and engage the local
people as part of the project since its beginnings (Wulandari,
2007; BBWS SO, 2013; Writers Field Study, 2015):
1. When Sermo Dam idea was firstly introduced, there was a
strategic meeting to the public figures in which the community put
their trust into. These persons are the main figures that put the
gear up the community saying yes to the proposal; they are R.
Suhardjo (Lurah or Village Chief), Dirjo Wahyudi (elder) and
Baurejo. They then become the spoke persons to discuss community
needs, community involvements and demands.
2. Relocation alternatives were given as options to the people,
i.e. transmigration to Riau, Taktoi in Bengkulu or move to
surrounding villages. This transmigration program was also a big
deal in Soeharto Era, it seeks new development area in other
islands, so that there will be chance for Indonesian people to live
other than in Java Island.
3. When the people were given these options, the 3 public
figures were given the opportunity to visit the proposed location
in Riau and Bengkulu. They were flown there and stayed for some
time, taking in details of location and report back to the
community. Taktoi in Bengkulu was chosen as favorite option due to
its
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environmental similarities that is to Sermo, hilly green forest
and at that time no electricity.
4. During the first years when the land is still bare, the
government also subsidized their food and daily needs. The ones
that choose to be transmigrated to Taktoi even had given a set of
Gamelan, to keep the cultural activity going and conserve their
indigenous values.
5. The price for the land that time was considered higher than
standard, which is IDR 500- 1,000/M2 compared to the compensation
IDR 2,500-5,000/m2. Or the ones that committed to transmigration
program get their land 10 times as much land size, i.e. for example
1,000 m2 would get 1 Ha in transmigration area.
6. When compensation was given to the community, a certain bank
was involved, so right then and there, people put their money to
saving account. That particular day was celebrated like a small
festival, Wayang or Shadow Puppet show was given, a small market
with balloons, food stalls, etc. were present, so that people can
buy little token from their money, but not spending it into wrong
investments or being tricked by villains.
7. As for those who stayed behind, there were trainings and
workshops to prepare them to embrace the new way of living. Given
the condition and their farms lands will be inundated and they will
stay by the hilly sides of the reservoir, there were some
adjustments that needed to be done. From farming to tourism
activity, there were also some skills that are required to be
learnt.
These steps were done in relatively short time (1994-1996), even
though at the beginning they were very surprised to deal with new
livelihoods, after 5 years running, the people are accustomed to
the condition and even now developed new activities surrounding
Sermo. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN SERMO This process of community
participation does not end there, it evolved into community
development. In definition, community development combines the idea
of community with development. The concept of community is a group
of people with a shared identity. Based on this concept, community
development depends on interaction between people and joint action
or also called collective agency (Flora, 1997). Development is a
process that increases choices. Development comprises change,
improvement and vitality a directed attempt to advance
participation, flexibility, equity, attitudes, the function of
institutions and the quality of life. It is the creation of wealth
in terms of values not merely economically, but also other values
(Shaffer, 1989). It can also means new options, diversification,
thinking about apparent issues differently and anticipating change
(Christenson et.al., 1989). Thus, community development in this
context means that community as the actor of change in improvement
processes in terms of social, economic and environmental condition.
To stress this point, writers used respondent samplings in field
study from various locations in surrounding areas of Sermo, as
shown below:
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Figure 3. Location of Respondents Sampling
Source: Google Map, 2015 Each location is represented with 5
respondents; the analytical results are accumulated and expressed
as below:
Settings Sample I Sample II Sample III Sample IV Location
Operator Office Tourism Dock Village Administration
Office Meeting Hall
Satisfactory Level for Sermo Dam Service
High High High Medium to High
Evident of Community Participation
Officers taken from local people
Hospitality services taken from locals
Officers taken from local people, trees planted belong to
people
Security officers taken from locals
Evident of Community Development
Operation & Maintenance of dam done from experiences of the
elders
Boat services, tourist guides, people taken interest in
providing food stalls surrounding the dock
Tourism Village: Kalibiru was becoming point of new attraction,
initiation of Dragon Boat Festival, trees that are planted are in
purpose of conserving catchment area with fruit or non-wood
production trees.
O&M of Hall done through Gotong Royong (cooperation among
locals)
Hamemayu Expressions Operators are in charge of maintaining the
safety of dam & regular water allocation
Services are given to conserve the nature and maintain the
beauty of Sermo
Officers are in charge of managing the local people and engaging
social roles
Meetings are held regularly, twice per month to secure water
allocation for farmers; other meetings can also be held using this
hall, especially related to tourism workshops.
Table 4. Respondents Sampling Source: Writer Field Survey,
2015
Respondents show that evident of community participation has led
to community development, having the sense of belonging for Sermo
also the foundation of their awareness and pride of being part of
Sermo. In the case of Sermo it evolves into new ways and better
future for the people who once lived in the submerged village. They
accept their new role of transmigration as a new opportunity that
proven to be success. Most of them who went took the plunge return
to Sermo only during holidays to visit relatives; they lived in
Taktoi now as proud member of society that has given their property
rights to their government, acclaiming new success status, and also
contribute to the conservation of nature. For those who stayed
behind, according to the zoning plan that was decreed by the
Governor can be seen in figure 4. According to this plan, green
belt is appointed to be open conservation area (dark blue), the
water body as semi-closed zone (green), and the management
facilities as closed zone (red). The decree also include rules
how
I II III
IV
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to conserve the forest and catchment area in order to keep the
water quality and quantity at Sermo in desirable condition also to
keep the sediment rate at lower level.
Figure 5. Zoning Plan
Source: Yogyakarta Special Region Governor, 2009 CONCLUSION In
the light of this experience, Sermo as one of the most successful
dam project in Indonesia, has taken more emphasize on community as
lead sector among initiators. Hamemayu as a development concept by
the local government has shaped the characteristic of the people.
It has so far being recognize as the most appreciated reservoir by
the locals and this needs to be celebrated, so that people are more
boosted to achieve other progress and keep rethinking about their
goals in order to be able to conserve and maintain Sermo condition,
not only as a dam, but also as a region, where catchment area is
also preserved with community development. REFERENCES Balai Besar
Wilayah Sungai Serayu Opak (BBWS SO), 2013. Laporan Evaluasi dan
Monitoring Pelaksanaan Dokumen Lingkungan Hidup, Yogyakarta: BBWS
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Development. In Community Development in Perspective, edited by
J.A. Christenson and J.W. Robinson, pp. 3-25. Ames: Iowa State
University Press. Cavaye, 2001. Rural Community Development New
Challenges and Enduring Dilemmas, The Journal of Regional Analysis
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1997. Enhancing Community Capitals: The Optimization Equation.
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Development 21(1): 1-3. Kenyon, P. 1994. Ready Set Go: Action
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Sambiroto Dams Feasibility Report, Main Report. Yogyakarta:
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