Official Ciawi And Sukamahi Dams, Jokowi Talks About Jakarta Floods That Can't Be Stopped

Photo: BPMI Setpres/Laily Rachev

President Joko Widodo inaugurated the Ciawi and Sukamahi Dams in Bogor Regency, West Java, as flood control in Jakarta.

"By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, the Ciawi Dam in Bogor Regency this morning I declare it was inaugurated," Jokowi continued with the screening of the floodgates at the two dams in Bogor, West Java, Friday, December 23, as reported by Antara.

Jokowi was accompanied by Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Hadi Tjahjanto, Governor of West Java Ridwan Kamil, and Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono.

According to Jokowi, there are three major problems with the capital city of DKI Jakarta, namely floods, traffic jams, and spatial planning.

"Now we are here to talk about flood matters. Floods in Jakarta, whoever the governor is, must consistently complete the normalization of the 13 rivers in Jakarta," said Jokowi.

In addition, he said there needs to be water reservoir pumping management in Jakarta as well as the construction of sea embankments to even bigger ones, namely giant seaworld.

"This must be resolved. If these three things are not completed, until whenever Jakarta will always be flooded. Whoever the governor is, must consistently resolve what I said earlier," he said.

Moreover, according to Jokowi, the main pattern for flood prevention in DKI Jakarta is clear at the DKI Jakarta Province Development, Research and Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) and the Ministry of PUPR.

"Also the Ciliwung drain goes to the BKT (East Flood Canal) must also be resolved immediately," he added.

He said the Ciawi Dam was a dry dam whose construction began in 2016 and spent a budget of IDR 1.3 trillion to accommodate approximately 6.05 million cubic meters of water.

"Ciawi and Sukamahi reduced from 464 million cubic meters to 318 million cubic meters. Approximately 12 sub-districts will become unaffected because there is this Ciawi and Sukamahi reservoir," he said.

Jokowi also asked Heru Budi Hartono and Ridwan Kamil to resolve the problem of flooding in DKI Jakarta consistently.

"Both those related to this reservoir are completed, then the normalization of 13 rivers in Jakarta, the affairs of Ciliwung drains to BKT, sea embankments, and seaworld giants, as well as the management of existing pumps with better management," he said.

Sukamahi Dam was built on top of 5.23 hectares of land and is targeted to reduce water by 15.47 cubic meters per second. The dam building carried out by PT. Wijaya Karya and Basuki KSO cost Rp 464.93 billion. The dam reduces water from several tributaries flowing into Ciliwung, such as the Sukabiris river.

Meanwhile, the Ciawi Dam has an inundation area of up to 39.40 hectares and is capable of storing water volumes of up to 6.05 million cubic meters. The dam can reduce Ciliwung River water before reaching Jakarta with a capacity of 111.75 cubic meters per second. Ciawi Dam construction costs IDR 798.70 billion and is carried out by PT. Brantas Abipraya and PT. Sacna.

In addition to having benefits as the parent system for flood control in Jakarta, the two dams can also be used as tourist attractions or ecotourism parks.