Gov’t Allocates Additional Rp239.7 Billion to Tackle Sidoarjo Mudflow

The handling of Sidoarjo mud flow in East Java province by Public Works and Public Housing Ministry. (Photo by: Ministry of PUPR).

The Government has announced it will continue to build supporting infrastructure and address social aspects in areas affected by the Sidoarjo mudflow.

For the record, the mudflow is located around 30 km to the south of East Java province capital of Surabaya.

Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing through the Sidoarjo Mud Flow Control Center (PPLS) has allocated a total budget of Rp239.7 billion in the 2020 Fiscal Year to tackle the mudflow by increasing the flow of mud to the Porong River and to maintain the reliability of dykes and other supporting infrastructure.

“Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing continues to ensure that assisting the surrounding communities affected by the mud flow remains the Government’s top priority,” Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono said.

Apart from the handling of mudflow, the Ministry, Basuki added, is also currently building embankments and other infrastructure, as well as maintaining the existing embankments and other infrastructure.

In the meantime, as part of initial measures to control the mud flow, the mudflow is channeled through installment of a ring embankment at the center of mud flow to push the mud through the spillway and pump it out to the Porong River. The work was carried out mechanically by using 5 units of dredgers through a pipeline network.

The drainage distance from the pond to the Porong River is around 1,918 meters. The drainage of water from the Porong River, embankment foot channel, and drainage into the embankment for dilution used 6 units of pumps with a composition of 20% solids and 80% water.

In addition, environmental management for the purpose of geotourism destination is also carried out by taking into account the surrounding environment where the public can visit several sides of the area and flood control in the affected area used a control pump.

The Sidoarjo mud can also be used for construction materials such as red brick, tile, aggregate and lightweight concrete. It has also potential bacteria tolerant with a high temperature in the enzyme and antibiotic industries as well as bacteria tolerant with high salinity as a biological fertilizer. (BKP Ministry of PUPR/EN)

Translator: Muhardi
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas