DKI Capitalises on El Niño Momentum to Accelerate River Dredging and Normalisation
The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is utilising the momentum of the El Niño phenomenon, or sea surface temperature warming, to accelerate the normalisation and dredging projects on several rivers in Jakarta.
DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung stated that, based on predictions from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), rainfall in Jakarta will begin to decrease from mid-April until September 2026.
“Starting from mid-April this month, as predicted by BMKG, with rainfall decreasing due to El Niño until September, the DKI Jakarta Government will concentrate on conducting dredging and normalisation of the existing rivers,” said Pramono during an inspection of the dredging at the West Flood Canal, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, on Friday (10/4/2026).
These normalisation efforts are being carried out alongside large-scale mud dredging, which is currently focused on the West Flood Canal (KBB).
Pramono explained that the dredging at KBB targets the lifting of around 178,000 cubic metres of mud.
He emphasised that this effort will be more effective in controlling floods if accompanied by improvements in the upstream sections of the rivers.
“Indeed, if this succeeds, we will dredge approximately 178,000 cubic metres, and the land that is currently being cleared, especially in Ciliwung, and then in Krukut, as I mentioned, we will also carry out normalisation,” he said.
With the dredging and normalisation during this dry season, Pramono targets restoring the rivers’ capacity to maximum when the rainy season arrives.
The main objective is for water flowing from upstream to reach the sea without obstruction.
Previously reported, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government carried out mud dredging at the West Flood Canal, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, on Friday (10/4/2026).
Observations at the site showed at least five excavator heavy machines operating along the West Flood Canal area.
Three excavators were operating in the water body area to dredge and remove rubbish from the river surface.
Meanwhile, the other two excavators were operating on the riverbank area while tidying up the mud that had been lifted from the river.