17 Water Channels In West Jakarta Dredged To Anticipate Floods

The dredging of the Pesanggrahan River in West Jakarta (Jakbar) by the West Jakarta Water Resources (SDA) Sub-dept., Wednesday (8/11/2023). ANTARA/Risky Syukur

The West Jakarta City Government dredged 17 waterways in the form of rivers or rivers and connecting channels (PHB) in eight sub-districts to anticipate flooding.

The dredging, said Head of the West Jakarta Water Resources (SDA) Sub-dept., Purwanti Suryandari, was carried out in a sustainable and non-simultaneous manner on 17 waterways.

"Yes, we do it continuously. So it's not simultaneous for all locations," said Purwanti as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, November 8.

Therefore, his party has not been able to confirm the completion of the dredging of the 17 channels. "We are still able to complete the target at the beginning of the year (January)," he said.

To carry out the dredging, his party deployed 25 heavy equipment or excavators. "We have 44 excavators. Now the other is placed on Ancol Beach for repairs there," he said.

A total of 25 excavators were enlivened to the 17 channels and the rest (19 excavators) were employed in the sewer (u-ditch) channel.

"There are several Kali Duri Kosambi, Pesanggrahan River, PHB Citra Extinction 2, PHB Livestock 2, Kali Semongol, PHB Mayor, PHB Rawa Buaya, PHB Srengseng and several other channels," he said.

Separately, one of the residents around Pesanggrahan River, Sariah (50) said that the dredging of the river, which had been running for about three months, had an impact on reducing flooding in its area.

"Yesterday, Saturday (4/11) the water rose too. In the rainy season there are floods almost every day," he said. "Yesterday, Saturday night, Sunday night, the water rose again to the rough land (the side of the ground next to the sheet pile). That's why the car (the dredge excavator) was lifted upward," said Sariah when met at the location.

Sariah admitted, before the Pesanggrahan River was dredged, floods always occurred and inundated the housing complex on the east side of the Pesanggrahan River or the south side of Jalan Perjuangan.

"There, in the complex in front (near Jalan Perjuangan) yes, it likes to be flooded. That's right before being eaten (conducted)," he said.

"The problem is that if it rains here, it doesn't rain, it keeps going directly to this area (water puddles). Sometimes when it's bright like this, floods come, it means rain in Bogor," said Sariah.

Sariah said, before dredging the complex, water was always inundated.

"High, it's at the Perjuangan complex in front of it up to closed terraces (floods). If it's never here," said Sariah.

In fact, said Sariah, when there was a celebration during the flood, residents were escorted by boat from the highway to the housing complex.

He hopes that with the completion of the dredging, in the future, the flood will not happen again.

"Hopefully, if it's finished dredging, it won't be flooded again," he said.