Pramono Inspects Dredging of West Flood Canal: A Vital Point for Flood Control

The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is dredging sludge from the West Flood Canal in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, on Friday (10/4/2026). Kompas.com observations at the site revealed at least five excavators operating along the West Flood Canal area. Three excavators were working in the waterway to dredge and remove rubbish from the surface, while the other two operated along the riverbank, tidying up the sludge already lifted from the canal. Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung stated that the dredging of the West Flood Canal is intended to control flooding in Jakarta. “This is a very, very, very strategic location for addressing one of Jakarta’s flood problems. This is where the Ciliwung River meets the Krukut Canal,” said Pramono during his inspection at the site on Friday. The West Flood Canal is also a key channel for water flow from upstream areas, including the Manggarai Floodgate. “So, when the Manggarai Gate is opened, the choice is whether it goes through Gajah Mada, the Palace, and so on, or through here. And this is very vital. Therefore, I have instructed the Water Resources Agency to complete it no later than one year from now,” he explained. “What needs to be dredged is approximately 178,000 cubic metres, over a length of 3.8 kilometres, because it hasn’t been dredged for so long that some edges have been turned into illegal fishing ponds,” Pramono added. Those illegal fishing areas will be promptly cleared to avoid hindering the dredging project. He said he has already instructed the Central Jakarta Mayor and the Water Resources Agency to ensure the dredging proceeds as planned. “Of course, it will be supported by the Central Jakarta Water Resources Sub-Directorate as the responsible party; this project must not fail or be delayed, it must go ahead,” he stated. “Starting from mid-April, when the BMKG predicts reduced rainfall due to El Niño until September, the DKI Jakarta Government will focus on dredging and normalising the city’s rivers,” Pramono remarked. If realised, water in Jakarta’s canals could flow more quickly to the sea, reducing flood risks. The remaining challenge is managing excessive water volume during high tides, which prevents outflow to the sea. The dredged sludge will be disposed of at several sediment disposal sites in North Jakarta.