TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Environment Agency has filed for an Rp197 billion budget for 2020 as the agency was intent on implementing an automated trash filter in the city’s Ciliwung River.

The agency’s regional budget (APBD) plan has been passed at the budget meeting with the Jakarta Legislative Council's (DPRD) Commission D members on Monday, November 11.

The head of the Jakarta Environment Agency, Andono Warih, said the technology was crucial, and rightfully prioritized, to overcome potential urban floodings due to the overflow of the Ciliwung River, which often happened in the past.

“The budget to build it is filed as a single-year budget,” said Andono in the meeting with Commission D.

He further explained the three levels that would be implemented in the technology. Firstly, the automatic technology intends to divert trash to a filter that will separate large from small trash, which will then lead to a more stringent filter to catch small trash.

This technology, he said, had been utilized by Australia and was mainly meant to prevent the trash from being delivered to the river’s downstream. “We will adapt it to local conditions that are often seen in Indonesian rivers,” said Andono Warih.

Moreover, he said the agency was assisted by the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). “This is a beneficial program. That is why we passed this,” said Ida Mahmuda, the Jakarta DPRD’s Commission D speaker.

IMAM HAMDI