Ancol bridge 'not obstructing river's flow'

Ancol bridge 'not obstructing river's flow'

JAKARTA (JP): Vice Governor TB. M. Rais yesterday refuted
Minister of Public Works Radinal Moochtar's claims that the
construction of a bridge, in front of Ancol Dreamland's entrance
in North Jakarta, obstructed the Ancol river's flow.

Rais, who deals with economic and development affairs, said
the bridge's foundations did not obstruct the river's flow
because the canal functioned more as a water catchment area.

"The canal has been turned into a reservoir which will retain
water from the Pademangan areas," he said.

While touring the city to check flood control systems last
Thursday, Radinal discovered the bridge's foundations occupied
three-quarters of the river's width

He said the bridge hampered the government's efforts to curb
annual flooding during the wet season by blocking the river's
flow.

The bridge is being built for the coming New Year's Eve
activities in Ancol Dreamland as the old one is on the brink of
collapse, said Prawoto, the city's assistant secretary for
economic and development affairs.

The old bridge will be demolished next year.

During last Thursday's inspection Radinal criticized
Dreamland's management for dumping waste into the Ancol river
saying the waste would reduce the river's capacity and make the
flood gates ineffective.

Rais said the Ciputra Group, which manages the recreation
center, used to dump its waste into the river but said the city
had ordered Dreamland's management to build a sewage system so
the waste could go straight into the sea.

"The implementation of the order has just been carried out
recently," he said. (02)