Faculty of Agriculture of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and PT. PLNÂ Distributor and Center of Load Regulator (P3B) Java-Bali Unit have agreed to cooperate in community empowerment. The cooperation would be conducted through development of productive conservation agriculture to reduce sedimentation of Mrica Dam and to improve people’s welfare. The MoU was signed by Dean of Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Ir. Triwibowo Yuwono, Ph.D., and Deputy Manager of PT. PLN, Lastono, representing General Manager, Nur Pamudji at Leadership Room, UGM Main Office, Monday (28/12).
Also attending and witnessing the signing were UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M.Eng., Ph.D., and Vice President for CSR of PT. PLN, Dewi Sertiani. Besides the leadership of PT PLN P3B Java-Bali Unit, UGM’s Executive Secretary and Head of Public Relations and Protocol also attended that event.
According to Dewi Sertiani, this cooperation between UGM and PT PLN shows better relationship between academic community, business sector, and the government. With this and with support from UGM’s experts, society based reforestation program can be supported. “With this principle, the society will be more empowered and have more capacity in keeping the watershed,†said Dewi.
The Rector also had similar expectation. With this cooperation, the two institutions hoped that they can improve the environment more realistically and improve the synergy while giving advantage for society. The cooperation between UGM and PT PLN, according to the Rector, is very important because it involves the society in reducing sedimentation in the Dam that can preserve the life of the Dam. “The dam may exist very shortly because the speed of mud flow can be very fast,†added the Rector.
Reforestation program around the Mrica Dam is expected to prevent erosion. The cooperation among academic community, business sector and the government will therefore give more advantages for the society.