Rp 350b to rid Barito of silt<\/p>\n
BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: About Rp 350 billion is needed
\nto remove millions of cubic meters of silt which has built up
\nalong Indonesia's longest river, the Barito, a local official
\nsaid Saturday.<\/p>\n
Without the fund there will be no permanent solution to the
\nproblem and silt will continue to accumulate in the river, head
\nof the provincial development planning board, Ismet Ahmad, said
\nas quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Ahmad said dredging the river was only a temporary solution.<\/p>\n
The province spends about Rp 5 billion a year on dredging,
\nwhich manages to scoop out only half of the five million cubic
\nmeters of silt that builds up in the river annually, he said.<\/p>\n
During the present fiscal year, Rp 8 billion was allotted for
\ndredging projects.<\/p>\n
He said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) once
\nstudied the river's siltation and recommended ways to free it of
\nsilt but nothing was done due to a lack of funds.<\/p>\n
Recently, another group, Dutch Environmental Technology
\nConsultants, did its own research on the river and also
\nrecommended a permanent solution which will cost about Rp 350
\nbillion, Ahmad said.<\/p>\n
Barito River, which flows between South Kalimantan and Central
\nKalimantan, plays a strategic role in the development of the two
\nprovinces. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rp-350b-to-rid-barito-of-silt-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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