The culverts of Sunter River that stretches under Kalimalang are clogged by piles of soil and soil sacks on the north side. As a result, waterflow becomes hindered and the residents living in Cipinang Melayu Urban Village, Makasar Sub-District, East Jakarta, are threatened by incoming flood.

We’ll clean and pick all of the sedimentation and soil piles in the culverts

Based on beritajakarta.com observations, from four culverts as wide as 2.5 meters and 4 meters high, two of them are clogged by piles of soil and soil sacks as high as 1.5 meters. Moreover, at the south side of the culverts there is as long as 175 meters and 15 meters wide. And the middle of the sedimentation, there are grass and weeds as high as 1 meter and two 2.5-meter tall banana trees.

Chief of RW 03 Cipinang Melayu, Muchtar Usman, told that the sedimentation had been dredged by Ciliwung-Cisadane Flood Control Office (BBWSCC) with PT Brantas Abipraya as the project contractor. However, the dredging was only running for three weeks.

“Unfortunately, not all sedimentation soils were thrown to the land. Now, the residents are worried would be flooded if the clog was not immediately cleaned,” he said, Friday (10/31).

Responding on this matter, the person in charge for Sunter River dredging from PT Brantas Abipraya, Anas Ridho, explained that at that time the sedimentation was going to be dredged. But since the locals prohibited the dredged soil dumped into the riverbank, the project was stopped. Another plan to be conducted is that the residents’ land lots on Sunter River bank will be acquisitioned for the river normalization project.

“We stop the project for now, because there is no land for disposal. At this time, we are looking for a disposal site and preparing for the heavy equipment to dredge the sedimentation soil,” he uttered.

Meanwhile, BBWSCC spokesman Putu Wirawan confirmed that last year there was dredging program. But, the culverts were intentionally closed to ease the dredging process of sedimentation and mud. Since the work was done manually, the results were not optimal. However, the project will be continued in the near future.

“We have instructed for the clogs to be cleaned. Indeed, it is intentionally blocked because it is how the sedimentation soil dredging technique works, so the water would not flow. One thing for sure is that we’ll clean and pick all of the sedimentation and soil piles in the culverts,” he stated.