TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Public Works and Public Housing Ministry is expects to complete the constructions of Ciawi and Sukamahi Dams in Bogor, West Java, by 2019. The dams will control flood in Jakarta.

Imam Santoso, Public Works Ministry’s Director General of Water Resources, said land clearing for the project is underway.

The dam projects will cost Rp950 billion. Ciawi Dam covers 89.42 hectares of land and Sukamahi Dam will be built on 49.82 hectares of land.

“During dry seasons, the dams will be dry. In rainy seasons they will contain water. Upstream water will be contained; it will not enter Jakarta. After river levels recede in Jakarta, the dams will discharge [the water]. The dams will temporarily contain flood discharge. It works like a teapot,” Imam noted, as quoted by Bisnis Indonesia.

The two dams would help manage flooding in greater Jakarta, known as Jabodetabek, albeit it would still depend on the amount of rainfall.

“It depends on whether the amount of the rainfall is high or not,” he said.

To address flooding in Jakarta, the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry together with Jakarta administration has been normalizing Ciliwung and Sunter rivers. The process has not been completed yet due to land clearing problem.

Ciliwung-Cisadane Riparian Area Central Agency (BBWS) head T. Iskandar said that the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has spotted 54 inundation areas in Jakarta.

“There used to be 2,100 flood-prone areas, it later fell to 400 and then to 80. We are now addressing the 80 flood-prone areas. The BNPB has spotted 54 inundation areas,” he said.

BISNIS.COM