BBWSC3 Says Water Level Drop at Karian Dam Still Safe

Serang (ANTARA) — The Cidanau Ciujung Cidurian River Basin Centre (BBWSC3) has confirmed that the declining water discharge currently occurring at Karian Dam in Lebak Regency, Banten, is still within safe limits to meet the public’s irrigation needs.

Head of BBWSC3 Dedi Yudha Lesmana, speaking in Serang on Monday, said that the water supply in the reservoir remains more than sufficient despite the drop in elevation. He guaranteed that the water supply for surrounding areas would not face any disruption.

“If areas downstream require more water, it can still be released from Karian,” Dedi said, affirming the dam’s supply reliability.

Regarding the details of the decline, Head of General Affairs and Administration at BBWSC3 Maretha Ayu Kusumawati explained that the reservoir’s water volume has so far fallen by only around five per cent.

“The elevation has dropped by about 80 centimetres from the normal water level,” Maretha said.

As for the buildings that remain fully intact despite having no roofs, Maretha explained that this was in line with the initial procedures when the reservoir area was inundated.

“The condition of the entire inundated area, even after being cleared, did not involve the demolition of any of the affected buildings. What the construction team cleared was only the vegetation,” she said.

Although the village has currently resurfaced due to the 80-centimetre decline, Maretha assured that the buildings will be submerged again once the dam reaches its highest capacity.

At the reservoir’s Maximum Flood Level (MAB), some of the houses will once again be submerged, given that the difference from the normal water level is around 3.35 metres.