“Lost your way?” Legend says the very waters of Sei Ladi Reservoir whisper tales of hidden pirates and forgotten heroes. I will tell you more about the Sei Ladi Reservoir. This isn’t just a body of water. It is a place brimming with history.
The area now known as Sei Ladi Reservoir was once a river flowing to the sea. According to local stories, this river was the hiding place of a group known as the “Orang Ladi.” Some say they were pirates, who disrupted ships sailing through the waters around Batam and the Strait of Malacca. The Orang Ladi used the river as their hideout. Over time, their hiding place became known as the Sei Ladi.
Fast forward to 1981. The government started building what is now the Sei Ladi Reservoir. This was during the era of the Batam Authority under BJ Habibie. The Sei Ladi Reservoir now serves as a crucial water source for the residents of Batam. The reservoir’s lake covers 123 hectares. It can hold about 9.4 million cubic meters of water.
The Sei Ladi Dam was built in 1985 and began operating in 1986. You can find it in Baloi Indah, Sekupang. The dam is an earth fill structure that is 15 meters high above the riverbed. It stretches 810 meters in length.
The Sei Ladi Reservoir has a capacity of 9.448 million cubic meters. It provides 240 liters of raw water per second. This water is essential for the daily needs of people in Baloi, Nagoya, and Jodoh.
The name “Sei Ladi” has historical roots. “Sei” means river in Malay. “Ladi” comes from Laksamana Ladi. He was a local admiral during the Riau-Lingga Sultanate. Laksamana Ladi was known for his bravery in protecting the waters around the Riau Islands. He defended the Melayu sea from pirates and foreign powers. He protected the Sultanate’s economic and security interests.
Even today, Laksamana Ladi is remembered. His name lives on in the Sei Ladi Reservoir. The reservoir stands as a vital resource for Batam’s people. From pirate hideout to essential water source, the Sei Ladi Reservoir has quite the story. It is a story of transformation and enduring legacy. So next time you see these waters remember the tales they hold.