Preventing Landslide PLTA PM Noor South Kalimantan Area, PLN Builds Cliff Trap

BARITO - PLN Barito made cliff traps at the Ir PM Noor Hydroelectric Power Plant (PLTA), South Kalimantan (Kalsel). The construction of the trap is to prevent the new renewable energy generating area from being hit by landslides.

"The work on making the cliff trap has been completed in early September," said PLN Manager of the Generation Control Implementation Unit (UPDK) Barito Nazrul Very Andhi in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, September 28.

He admitted that the Ir PM Noor hydropower plant is a landslide-prone area because of its location which is surrounded by steep cliffs in Aranio District, Banjar Regency.

In addition to making traps on cliffs that are prone to landslides, PLN has also planted vetiver grass.

He said vetiver roots are useful for preventing landslides and floods, improving water quality, protecting infrastructure, absorbing toxins, and fertilizing the soil.

"Vetiver grass is a type of citronella whose roots are strong and tight like steel wire, gripping the ground and can withstand landslides," he said.

Nazrul said that the clearing of wild vegetation in the reservoir area, which was proposed by PLN Pusertif, is also routinely carried out because wild vegetation can cause the soil to become soft and prone to landslides.

"All this is done in order to keep the right cascade reservoir area and the hydropower plant safe and secure so that the operation process can take place continuously without any problems," he explained.

PLTA Ir Pangeran Muhammad Noor is a new renewable energy plant that utilizes the right cascade reservoir water flow to generate electricity with a power that can be generated of 3x10 MegaWatt.