15 Houses in Balekambang Prone to Landslide
Reported by Hendi Kusuma | Translated by Arief Rahman
As many as 15 houses on Jalan Munggang, RT 08/04, Balekambang Urban Village, Kramatjati Sub-District, East Jakarta, are prone to landslide. The location is 20 meters high and directly adjacent to Ciliwung River.
We are worried our houses would fall down too, because the soil is starting to erode by rainwater and overflowed water from Ciliwung River
Ita (34), a local, admitted that she is fear of landslide because the soil is getting eroded by rainwater and overflowed water from Ciliwung River. She also disclosed that in 2007 landslide had happened. At that time, the road surface was subsidence into the river and caused five buildings collapsed.
“We are worried our houses would fall down too, because the soil is starting to erode by rainwater and overflowed water from Ciliwung River. Hopefully related unit would build concrete foundation on the ground wall to prevent landslide,” she expressed, Monday (12/15).
1,500 TNI Personnel Cleaned Ciliwung RiverResponding this matter, Deputy Head of Balekambang Urban Village, Sofyan, acknowledged this condition has happened for a long time. Actually, Jakarta Provincial Government via East Jakarta Water Management Public Works Sub-Department had offered a solution to build water channel for the residents, but the residents refused.
“We had given a solution to the residents, but they refused. The reasons were varied,” he told.
According to Sofyan, this condition is very dangerous for the residents. If it was neglected and no repair work done, landslide might occur.
“There should be repair done, but it is not our authority. It’s Public Works Department’s authority,” he said.
Meanwhile, Head of Natural Resources Environmental Damage Handling Section for East Jakarta Environment Office (KLH), Rosmana, explained that landslide which had happened in Balekambang was caused by lack of land support such as trees. As a result, abrasion happened, in which the soil became eroded by water.
“Jakarta Provincial Government has done study related to environmental damage at the edge of Ciliwung-Cisadane. The solution is probably at the provincial level,” she stated.
