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

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

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

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

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

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:

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

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 SO. Christenson J.A., Fendley, K. and Robinson J.W. 1989. Community 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 and Policy, 31:2. Florida: Jaksonville University. Flora, C.B. 1997. Enhancing Community Capitals: The Optimization Equation. Rural Development News. The North Central Regional Center for Rural Development 21(1): 1-3. Kenyon, P. 1994. Ready Set Go: Action Manual for Community Economic Development. Melbourne: Municipal Association of Victoria. Mac Donald & Partner, 1980. Sermo and Sambiroto Dams Feasibility Report, Main Report. Yogyakarta: Ministry of Public Works. Maryono, Agus, 2013. Demokrasi dan Falsafah Hamemayu Hayuning Bawono Untuk Kelestarian Lingkungan Hidup, Yogyakarta: Gadjah Mada University. Shaffer, R.E. 1989. Community Economics: Economic Structure and Change in Smaller Communities. Ames: Iowa State University Press. Suara Pembaruan, 2013. Waduk Sermo, Bendungan Terbaik se-Indonesia. Semarang: Suara Pembaruan. http://sp.beritasatu.com/home/waduk-sermo-bendungan-terbaik-se-indonesia/40528 Wulandari, Dyah Asih, 2007. Ganti rugi dalam pengadaan tanah pada pembangunan Waduk Sermo di Kabupaten Kulon Progo. Thesis UGM, Yogyakarta Wagiran, 2012. Character Development Based On Local Wisdom Hamemayu Hayuning Bawana (Identification of Character Values Based on Culture). Jurnal Pendidikan Karakter, Tahun II, Nomor 3, Oktober 2012. Yogyakarta Special Region Governor, 2009. Peraturan Gubernur Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta No.9 Tahun 2009 Tentang Pengelolaan Kawasan Waduk Sermo. Yogyakarta Special Region Governor, 2008. Peraturan Gubernur Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta No.20 Tahun 2008 Tentang Baku Mutu Air di Provinsi Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta.