Kupang – Residents of Kolhua subdistrict of Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, have rejected the municipality's plan to develop a dam worth Rp 285 billion (US$20 million), saying that the project would evict them from 370 houses and 60 hectares of farmland.

"We oppose the government plan. We support the government program, but don't sacrifice us," Kolhua community leader Agus Saijuna said on Saturday.

Agus said he and the 246 families who owned the farmland opposed the government's plan since they did not want to lose the land, which has been under cultivation since 1983.

Another Kolhua community leader, Yunus Lisnahan, accused the municipality of trying to divide city residents. "The Kupang mayor always says that the solution for the water supply is developing the Kolhua dam."

Yunus said a water spring in Kolhua was not the only water source in the city, adding that there were 25 points that could be developed by the municipality.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/03/14/islands-focus-kupang-s-kolhua-dam-opposed.html