City strives to adopt new underground utility system
City strives to adopt new underground utility system
JAKARTA (JP): City administration will require all
construction contractors to deploy an integrated underground
utility network system to develop the city's public utility
system.
The deputy governor for development affairs, Budihardjo
Sukmadi, said on Thursday that it was time to replace the old
"open trench system", which was time-consuming and economically
inefficient.
"Modern developed cities require an integrated and structured
duct system, although it is expensive," Budihardjo said while
addressing participants of a workshop on Thursday at City Hall on
underground utility networks.
Ronny Trianggono, an executive of construction firm PT Virama
Karya, said the integrated network system would save the city
administration money in the long run.
"With the integrated underground utility network system, the
city administration will not need to allocate the budget for any
maintenance and construction projects of the public utility
network," Ronny said.
He also said the new system would minimize the risks of
traffic congestion, especially on busy streets.
"With the new system, construction workers will not need to
dig up a big portion of the streets whenever there are new
installation projects," he said.
The city administration has enacted several regulations on
underground utilities, including Governor Decrees No. 439/1991
and No. 615/1999, both on the underground system construction for
certain parts of the city.
Budihardjo said the city started deploying the integrated
network system for the construction of public utilities on
certain busy streets, instead of using the open trench system.
Currently, all public utility construction contractors use the
open trench system to install the public utility network. The
system has brought complaints from residents, citing the lack of
coordination between units in the city administration.
Budihardjo, who is also chairman of the Underground Utility
Network Coordinating Board (BKJS), said the city's basic public
utility system, including the sewage management system, was one
step behind the city's development.
"Yogyakarta has a more advanced sewage system than Jakarta,"
he said.
"If this condition continues, Jakarta will be deserted by its
residents and no investors will come, due to the city's poor
sanitary system."
He suggested that the city administration prioritize the
establishment of the city's sewage management system.
"We can adopt the Australian system, where both government and
private sectors are included in a partnership development system
of an underground utility network," Budihardjo said.
"Actually, we have all the technology here. All we need is a
form of partnership to build an integrated underground utility
network," he added.
Head of the BKJS secretariat, Pudjo Priyo Santoso, said all
public utility construction contractors were required to use the
underground network in the future.
"This network will be able to accommodate all public utility
systems," he said.
Head of the city's Bureau of Programs, which organized the
workshop, Dedi M. Tisnamihardja, said the workshop was the first
of its kind to include all involved sectors.
"It's important for the city administration, utility workers
and consultants to share their vision on the matter," he said.
Dedi said workshop participants would be requested to
formulate a proposal on an underground utility network.
"The proposal will be used for the future development of the
city's public utilities," he said. (05)