River dredging nearly complete

JAKARTA: The dredging of the 13 rivers that flow through Jakarta is expected to be completed by the end of this month, the head of Jakarta Public Works Agency IGKG Suena said on Monday.

The city administration is clearing all the rivers to help prevent flooding.

"The rivers include the Kali Baru and Kali Adem (both are tributaries of the Muara Angke river in North Jakarta), Ancol (North Jakarta) and Cideng (Central Jakarta)," he said.

He said that the administration would erect concrete barriers on each of the riverbanks after the dredging work was done.

The river clearing is part of the construction of the US$485 million East Flood Canal as well as the extension of the existing West Flood Canal.

During the dredging, the city administration has evicted hundreds of families living on the riverbanks, who are now homeless. Hundreds more are set to follow over the next couple of months. --JP