Uncomplete Permit, Malang City Government Temporarily Stops Bango River Water Processing Installation Project

Workers connected iron pipes to the Drinking Water Treatment Plant (WTP) project in Pandanwangi, Malang, East Java, Friday (8/9/2023). BETWEEN PHOTOS/Ari Bowo Sucipto/nym.

Malang City Government (Pemkot) has temporarily suspended the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) project or the Bango River Water Processing Installation (IPA), which is a collaboration between Perumda Tugu Tirta and Perum Jasa Tirta (PJT) I.

Malang Mayor Wahyu Hidayat said the temporary suspension of the water treatment plant project was carried out due to incomplete licensing.

"Yes, just because the permit has not been completed, because it is in process," Wahyu said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, November 6.

Wahyu explained that the temporary suspension of the water treatment plant construction project was carried out in Pandanwangi Village, Blimbing District, Malang City after receiving information from the President Director of Perum Jasa Tirta I.

With the unequipped permit, he said, the Malang City Government and Perum Jasa Tirta I agreed to temporarily suspend the construction of the water treatment plant.

"That was conveyed directly from the President Director of PJT I. For that, he agreed to a temporary suspension, until the permit was completed," he said.

PJT I President Director Fahmi Hidayat stated that his party complied with and followed the existing procedures. He hopes that the construction process for the water treatment plant will not stop for too long.

"We obey and follow the existing procedures. And actually it has been in the process, it will accelerate, so that this (WTP) does not stop for too long," said Fahmi.

The construction of the Bango River water treatment plant is a collaboration project between Perum Jasa Tirta I and Perumda Tugu Tirta with an investment value of IDR 74 billion.

Management of a similar system has been developed in Lamongan, East Java, and is considered to be running well. Tirta I assessed that if a similar system was developed in Malang City, it would be able to run well because it has very high potential.

If the potential surface water in Malang City can be optimized up to 1,500 or 2,000 liters per second, the community's needs and security of water availability for Malang City in the future can be guaranteed.