Environment Agency Deploys 5,000 Personnel for Post-flood Cleanup

The Jakarta Environment (LH) Agency deployed 5,000 orange troops personnel to tackle the massive waste carried by the floods from Sunday (3/2) to Tuesday (3/4).

"Orange troops from LH Agency have been deployed in multiple locations,"

Head of Jakarta LH Department, Asep Kuswanto, said that thousands of personnel have been mobilized across the region due to heavy rains that flushed Jabodetabek in the last few days.

The cleanup was carried out to prevent accumulation of waste that could block the river flow through Jakarta.

120 Joint Personnel Clean Post-flood in Rawajati

The work started from TB Simatupang Waste Filter when the river rose significantly on Sunday (3/2). 

Dozens of personnel were deployed on the site to ensure that TB Simatupang Waste Filter operates optimally. To date, they have collected over 2,000 tons of waste.

"Orange troops from LH Agency have been deployed in multiple locations, including TB Simatupang Waste Filter, with heavy equipment to clean up the waste carried by the flood," he expressed, Wednesday (3/5).

TB Simatupang Waste Filter, which has been operating since 2023, is considered capable of reducing the accumulation of garbage at the Manggarai Sluice Gate which typically surges during the rainy season.

"This is also part of city's efforts to restore the function of Ciliwung River ecosystem that passes through Jakarta by reducing the incoming waste," he asserted.

LH Agency's Orange Troops, he added, also handled garbage stuck in several locations, such as Kampung Melayu Bridge. Therefore, personnel were deployed with heavy equipment to transport the garbage.

"The volume of garbage on Kampung Melayu Bridge cannot be confirmed yet due to the continuous influx of garbage getting stuck on the bridge. Our field personnel are doing their best to deal with the situation," he mentioned.

He reported that the current condition of Manggarai Sluice Gate is still fairly conducive, with water level reaching 790 cm or Alert Level 3. Two heavy equipment, Sumitomo SH210 Excavator and Liebher 934 Standard Material Handler Excavator, have been deployed along with dozens of personnel. The volume of waste colected reached 36 cubic meters.

Additionally, dozens of personnel will handle 36 cubic meters of waste in the Petamburan West Flood Canal (BKB). Meanwhile the situation at Season City West Flood Canal section remains under control, where garbage has been transported using two heavy equipment units.

"The high water discharge hampers the orange troops and Water Body Unit personnel in handling garbage in Ciliwung, therefore requiring the use of heavy equipment," he said.

According to him, the preparedness of personnel is the key to managing flood-borne waste in Jakarta by ensuring clean river flows.

"This also helps prevent potential flooding caused by garbage blockages," he stated.