River embankment collapses

TANGERANG: People in five villages in Kemiri district, Tangerang regency, are worried that they will be flooded out as the Cimanceuri river embankment in the Kelebet village near their homes has collapsed, despite being built last year by the government's contractor.

"The Cimanceuri river always overflows in the rainy season. With the collapsed embankment, the water will definitely inundate these five villages," said Legok village chief Madkusin on Saturday.

The five villages include Kelebet, Legok, Karang Anyar, Lontar and Selapanjang.

"We can't do anything because we have no money to rebuild the embankment," he added.

Kemiri district chief Chaerul Saleh said that he had reported the damage to the regency's resettlement and regional infrastructure agency, which built the embankment last year. There has not yet been a response.

A villager from Legok, Hambali, alleged that the damage was caused by the poor quality of the embankment, built by a contractor handpicked by the local administration.

"We hope the Tangerang regency administration will intervene with this. If the embankment is not repaired before the rainy season comes, we will definitely be flooded out of our village," he said.

The rainy season is expected to arrive within the next few weeks. -- JP