SKEPHI preparing program to save city's ponds<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The non-governmental organization Network for
\nForest Conservation in Indonesia (SKEPHI) is preparing a program
\ncalling on people to stop spoiling natural water ponds in Jakarta
\nand surrounding areas.<\/p>\n
Head of SKEPHI Indro Tjahjono told The Jakarta Post yesterday
\nthat the research conducted three years ago on the condition of
\nponds in Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi detected a 30
\npercent decrease in the quality and quantity of ponds since 1985.
\nIt was mainly due to local people's negligence.<\/p>\n
\"Many ponds have started to silt up due to the large
\nquantities of garbage dumped and mud deposits as well as housing
\nconstruction,\" Indro said.<\/p>\n
According to Indro, it is the residents of the localities who
\nare to blame. \"They fill the land with garbage so that houses can
\nbe built on it after a suitable period of time,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indro said that as most of the ponds are located in strategic
\nareas, business considerations have a greater say in the matter
\nthan their own personal well-being.<\/p>\n
\"People are unaware that the existence of the ponds is crucial
\nboth for water catchment and for the prevention of salt water
\nintrusion, which is important to retain good quality drinking
\nwater,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The SKEPHI project will be aimed at giving local authorities
\ninformation about the importance of preserving ponds by
\nprohibiting people from dumping garbage or any other materials to
\nfill up the land in water catchment areas.<\/p>\n
Citing examples, he pointed to the shrinking size of ponds in
\nthe Sunter area in North Jakarta, the Blora area in Central
\nJakarta, and Barito in West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He said that within ten years only about 1,000 of the former
\n6,000 square meters of pond will be left in the Sunter area due
\nto land fills.<\/p>\n
According to data from the city administration and the Public
\nWorks office only 17 out of 46 ponds, amounting to 400 hectares
\nin surface area, still exist in Tangerang, some 30 km West of the
\ncity center. Indro believes that these figures are exaggerated.<\/p>\n
At present there are 122 ponds in Bogor with a surface of 561
\nhectares. The twelve ponds in the Bekasi area have a total
\nsurface of 157 hectares.<\/p>\n
Indro said that after a period the ponds' decreased water
\nabsorbing function will result in the land sinking because of the
\nlack of water in the layers underneath.<\/p>\n
\"The Sediatmo Road to Cengkareng International Airport is an
\nexample,\" he said.<\/p>\n
As the swamps along the road were filled, the lack of
\ngroundwater underneath has made the road sink seven to 25
\ncentimeters, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The theory also applies to high-rise buildings, especially
\nthose without strong foundations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Jakarta reportedly has fewer than 10 ponds, each of which has
\nbeen reduced to about 1,000 meters in diameter due to
\nunauthorized dumping.<\/p>\n
Floods in the city have prompted the authorities and
\ndevelopers to build man-made ponds.<\/p>\n
\"But they have not been able to replace the lost natural ones,
\nwhich had a much greater ability to absorb water,\" Indro
\nsaid.(03)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/skephi-preparing-program-to-save-citys-ponds-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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