DKI Will Use Polar Dam in Tangerang for PAM Water Supply, Pramono: Symbiosis of Mutualism

DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government plans to utilize the Bendung Polor in the Tangerang area, Banten, as a source of raw water for the treatment of piped clean water managed by PAM Jaya.

DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung said that this inter-regional cooperation is the key to solving the problems that Jakarta and Banten have been facing, including the availability of clean water and flood control.

According to Pramono, the development of the Bendung Polor will benefit both regions. Banten benefits because it has a larger water catchment area to hold floods, while Jakarta obtains a source of raw water to meet the needs of clean water for its residents.

"I believe that the Governor of Banten and the regional government, the Mayor and the Regent agree that the Bendung Polor will be developed, it will provide benefits for Banten because it has a catchment area to hold floods," said Pramono at the DKI Jakarta City Hall, Wednesday, February 4.

"For Jakarta, this water can be used to become clean water that will be managed by PAM Jaya. Well, ways like that will be mutually beneficial," continued Pramono.

Pramono hopes that the development of the Bendung Polor with the addition of additional reservoirs in the Jakarta area can increase the capacity of the water catchment area in the Banten area, as well as strengthen the supply of clean water for Jakarta.

"Hopefully, with the completion of the Polor Dam, the catchment area to hold the water in Banten will also be bigger, which we can use, PAM Jaya, to meet Jakarta's clean water. And that is what is called a symbiosis of mutualism between Jakarta and Banten," he said.

Continuing, Banten Governor Andra Soni assessed that the water governance issue could not be solved alone. He emphasized Jakarta's geographical position which is downstream, making cross-regional cooperation a necessity.

"As I said, Banten needs Jakarta, Jakarta needs Banten, that's the reality. One of the things we discussed is related to the water channel," said Soni.

Soni explained that the flow of water from the upstream and central areas, including Banten, will flow into Jakarta. This condition has the potential to increase the risk of flooding, especially when combined with rob.

Soni said that the Bendung Polor is an old bendung which was previously used to regulate agricultural irrigation. As the function of the area changes, the bendung is now directed as a water catchment area and source of raw water.

"But now we don't have any agricultural land at all. The water is now regulated as a water catchment area and managed as raw water for the benefit of residents of Banten and Tangerang," he concluded.