Gov’t to Speed Up Ciliwung River Anti-Flood Project

President Jokowi inaugurates Ciliwung River Canal in Jakarta, Monday (07/31). Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Rahmat

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has ordered Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing to work hand in hand with Provincial Government of Special Capital Region of Jakarta to speed up Ciliwung river project to reduce flooding in Jakarta.

“The normalization of Ciliwung River must be completed soon. As of today, of the existing 33 kilometers, only 16 kilometers of the project have been completed, so there is still 17 kilometers remaining. I have ordered Minister of Public Works and the Governor to complete this, and handle 12 rivers that flow through Jakarta,” the President said after inaugurating the Ciliwung River Canal in Jakarta, Monday (07/31).

The President added that the construction of the 1.2-kilometer Ciliwung Canal with two tunnels took about 11 years to complete, with a budget of Rp1.150 trillion. The infrastructure has capacity to reduce flooding in six sub-districts in Jakarta.

Apart from the Ciliwung waterway, the Government has also completed the construction of Ciawi Dam and Sukamahi Dam. The infrastructure can reduce flooding in Jakarta up to 62 percent.

The President further said that there is still 38 percent of unfinished project in resolving the flood problem in Jakarta. All efforts to deal with the flood, he added, must be carried out in a comprehensive manner.

“This is a long-term work. We must also deal with coastal flooding from the north, from the sea. That is another significant problem,” the President remarked. (FID/UN) (RI/MMB)