New drainage works for Tangerang

TANGERANG: The municipal administration says remedial works in the flood-prone Gebang Raya, Periuk Jaya and Gembor subdistricts of Periuk district are about to commence.

The project, which is set to commence on Friday and is expected to completed next year, has been assigned to housing developer PT Darma Tunggal Usaha Mandiri, which is also building the Wisma Harapan housing complex on a 30-hectare site in the area.

"We will dredge the Keroncong River and construct two small lakes for water catchment purposes. We will also build a proper drainage system to prevent the annual flooding that has been plaguing local people," a director of the company, Darmadi, said on Wednesday.

At least 2,600 families live in the three subdistricts, and they have been repeatedly demanding that the administration carry out flood prevention works in the area.

The Total Persada housing complex is worst affected as it was located next to the Keroncong river. It is sometimes inundated up to a depth of two meters.

"This project is what we really need to deal with the floods, not packs of instant noodles," said Yogi, a Total Persada resident. -- JP