PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono Believes Sea Embankments Can Overcome Rob Floods In Semarang

Minister of PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono believes that the flood and tidal control programs in Tambaklorok in phase II, including the construction of embankments, will be effective in overcoming floods and tidal waves in Semarang, Central Java.

"I think this will be a pilot as stated by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) because areas along the Pantura need to be handled because they also experience land subsidence, so not only Jakarta, but also Tegal, Pekalongan, Demak, including Semarang," Minister Basuki said in a confirmed statement from Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, June 18.

Basuki this Monday accompanied President Jokowi to review the Phase II Flood and Rob Control Program and the Arrangement of the Fisherman Village Area in Tambaklorok, Semarang. In the project, the Ministry of PUPR built a 3.6 kilometer (km) sea embankment to control floods and tidal waves that often hit Semarang.

"For this 56 hectare area, we are conducting regional arrangements as well as flood and tidal control and everything is currently closed so that there will be no more floods and tidal waves entering the Tambaklorok area," said Basuki.

Basuki explained that in the flood control system there are also two retention ponds or shelters with an area of 12.02 hectares and 8.57 hectares. Each retention pond is also equipped with a pump with a capacity of 3 x 500 liters per second.

The entire progress has reached 85 percent. It will all be completed in August 2024. The land acquisition is carried out by the Semarang City Government, and development by the Ministry of PUPR, so there is collaboration," said Basuki.

The flood and tidal control program in the Tambaklorok Phase II area will begin to be implemented by the Directorate General of Water Resources of the Ministry of PUPR in 2022 with a budget allocation of IDR 231.6 billion. Meanwhile, the management of the Fisherman Village area in Tambaklorok was carried out by the Directorate General of Human Settlements of the Ministry of PUPR starting May 2017. The amount of budget allocated for the arrangement of the area is IDR 45.6 billion.

President Jokowi said the flood control project and tidal waves are projected to withstand the tidal wave that occurs within the next 30 years.

"The length for the rob embankment is 3.6 km. I think in a period of at least 30 years it can hold back the tidal wave that occurred. Currently, it is only being built, later when it is completed in August, the effectiveness will be seen," said President Jokowi in the review.