Sodetan Ciliwung Had Mandek, Jokowi: Land Acquisition Not Resolved By The DKI Provincial Government

President Jokowi inaugurated the Ciliwung drain in East Jakarta on Monday (31/7/2023) (Diah Ayu/VOI)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo explained that the cause of the Ciliwung Sodetan project had been suspended for several years, before the construction was finally completed and inaugurated today.

Jokowi said that the obstacle that caused the stalled Ciliwung Sodetan project was the land acquisition process which had not been carried out for several years.

In this case, the land acquisition for residential areas used as sodetan project areas is the responsibility of the DKI Provincial Government. Meanwhile, the construction of the sodetan is the responsibility of the Ministry of PUPR.

"Land acquisition. Because this work really depends on land acquisition. So that at that time drilling activities stopped because the land acquisition was not completed by the DKI Provincial Government," said Jokowi after inaugurating the Ciliwung Bidara Cina Sodetan, East Jakarta, Monday, July 31.

On its way, the Sodetan Ciliwung project initiated by Jokowi while serving as Governor of DKI Jakarta has been stagnant since 2015. During the leadership of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), a Chinese Bidara resident sued the DKI Provincial Government for not accepting the area of land that was acquired until the value of compensation.

The residents' lawsuit was won by the Jakarta Administrative Court, but Ahok filed an appeal in 2016 and the case did not continue until the leadership changed to Anies Baswedan.

Continuing two years after serving as Governor of DKI, Anies decided to revoke Ahok's cassation in 2019. Then, Anies formed a land acquisition preparation team for the Ciliwung River drain with the Decree of the Governor of DKI Jakarta Number 1744 of 2019. However, land acquisition has not yet continued in the Anies era.

Until finally Heru Budi Hartono served as Acting Governor of DKI, the land acquisition process was accelerated and construction work was continued by the Ministry of PUPR.

"Now it's finished and is also finished. Therefore, I say this work together with the Ministry of PUPR and the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government," said Jokowi.

Now, Joko said that the settlement of the Ciliwung Sodetan could at least reduce 62 percent of the flood problem in the capital city of DKI Jakarta.

"With the completion of Sodetan Ciliwung, this also resolves Jakarta floods, (increased) well; but Ciawi-Sukamahi Dam, Ciliwung Sodetan, Ciliwung normalization, East Flood Canal, can only solve about 62 percent of the flood problems in Jakarta," he said.

With the Ciliwung Sodetan, Jokowi said there were still 38 percent of flood problems in the capital city that must be resolved by the central government and the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government.

"This means that there is still 38 percent PR (homework). This must be done together with the Ministry of PUPR and the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government. Once again, it must be done together with the Ministry of PUPR with the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government, together. This is a very complex and difficult problem," said Jokowi.

With the completion of the Ciliwung Sodetan, Jokowi targets that at least six urban villages in Jakarta will no longer experience flooding.

"Sodetan Ciliwung's business has been around for years, it's been almost 11 years, and thank God it's finished today. This can solve at least six urban villages without flooding anymore," he added.

According to him, the handling of Jakarta floods must be carried out from upstream to downstream.

"It cannot be done only downstream. Therefore, last year we had completed building in Bogor, whose names are Ciawi Reservoir and Sukamahi Reservoir in 2022," said Jokowi.

He also reminded that the handling of floods in Jakarta is not enough to only overcome problems in the Ciliwung River.

"Because we in Jakarta do not only take care of the Ciliwung River. There are 12 other rivers that also need to be handled properly; yes, the Sunter River, Cipinang River, West Baru River, East Baru River, Mookervart River, Pesanggrahan River, and others," he explained.

Another problem that has not been handled, according to Jokowi, is the tidal flood that rose to the mainland of DKI Jakarta.

"Once again, the handling of Jakarta floods must be carried out from upstream to downstream comprehensively," said Jokowi.