Central and East Java agree on river management

Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya

The provincial administrations of Central Java and East Java signed on Tuesday an agreement on environmental and resource management of the Bengawan Solo River, which flows though the two provinces.

Both administrations agreed they would gradually demolish houses along the riverbank to avoid flooding in the area.

"We will inform people in both provinces of this matter. Their compliance with this master plan is needed," said the head of the Central Java Development Planning Board (Bappeda), Miyasto, after the signing ceremony here.

In the signing ceremony, the East Java administration was represented by the head of the East Java Bappeda, Sapari Ranuwidjaja.

Miyasto recalled that a huge flood in 1996 claimed lives and caused material losses. Therefore, cooperation of the two provinces was needed, considering that two-thirds of the 362 kilometer-long river is in East Java.

The signing took place at Simpang Hotel, Surabaya, on Tuesday evening as a follow-up to an agreement by East Java Governor Imam Utomo and his Central Java counterpart Mardiyanto on June 7.

The agreement covers a plan of cooperation between the two provincial administrations on 15 sectors of development including maritime, crossborder and infrastructure.

Sapari Ranuwidjaja added that a new master plan was to be enforced to help promote development and management along the Bengawan Solo River.

This is, according to Sapari, aimed at reducing the threat of drought, flood, water pollution and seawater intrusion.

Sedimentation in the river each year is estimated to reach 2,280 tons.

The development and the management of Bengawan Solo have so far been done according to a master plan drafted by the Japan- based Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency in 1974.

The master plan was redefined because of the many changes in the physical, social and economical aspects of the river.

Rapid industrial development in Surakarta, Central Java, and in the coastal regencies of Tuban, Lamongan and Gresik in East Java has been accompanied by the potential threat of pollution, Sapari said.