DKI Provincial Government Confirms Ciliwung Sodetan Will Not Eliminate Floods

Photo: Diah Ayu-VOI

Acting Head of the Water Resources Service, Ika Agustin Ningrum, emphasized that the Ciliwung Sodetan could not eliminate flooding in the Ciliwung Riverbank area.

This statement was in response to a number of areas in Jakarta that were flooded on Saturday, November 4 and Sunday, November 5 due to heavy rains that caused the river to overflow when Sodetan Ciliwung was already in operation.

"Don't misinterpret it because of the Ciliwung Detention Center, Jakarta is Flood-Free. Sodetan does not mean eliminating flooding. The puddle will still exist, especially riverbank areas," said the dredging of the Ciliwung River on the flow in Kebon Baru Village and Bidara Cina Village, Friday, November 10.

Ika said that the Ciliwung Sodetan which broke the volume of water in the Ciliwung River to the East Flood Canal (BKT) only functions to reduce the height of inundation and the duration of the flood time.

The reduction in the inundation height of the Ciliwung Sodetan operation is only in Bidara Cina, Kebon Baru, Bukit Duri, Kampung Melayu, Manggrai, and Kebon Manggis Villages.

"Don't expect the sodetan to be flood-free, especially the Ciliwung River. This Ciliwung route (flowway) from Bogor, Depok, everything flows from Ciliwung River to sea," said Ika.

"Well, if the residents who live on the banks will definitely be inundated. It's just that how long the inundation takes, with sodetan, it's really helped," he continued.

Although Ika admits that it is necessary to improve standard operating procedures (SOP) for the function of sodetan as stated by the Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono, at least the impact of flooding on the banks of the Ciliwung River has decreased.

"Yesterday's average decreased by 50 to 70 centimeters, the water level. This is not just a drain. There are Ciawi and Sukamahi dams that have one system of units," he added.