W. Jakarta dam idle

W. Jakarta dam idle

JAKARTA (JP): The new dam built by a developer in Wijayakusuma subdistrict, West Jakarta, has not yet been operated.

West Jakarta Mayor Sutardjianto said yesterday the dam had not yet been officially transferred by the developer, PT Duta Pertiwi, to the local administration.

The building of the dam is part of the developer's responsibility to provide social and public facilities, Sutardjianto said.

"Wijayakusuma residents have complained to the mayoralty office about recent flooding and demanded that the mayoralty put the dam into operation," the mayor added.

The 1.2-hectare Wijayakusuma dam is designed to prevent floods in the Wijayakusuma subdistrict and the two neighboring subdistricts of Jelambar and Jelambar Baru.

With the completion of the dam, West Jakarta mayoralty now has eight dams, which are part of its flood control system.

The other seven dams are located in Kota Bambu, Grogol, Tomang, Tanjung Duren, Bojong Indah and two in Slipi.

The mayor said that another dam would be constructed as soon as possible in the Cengkareng subdistrict.

West Jakarta has 20 spots that are prone to flooding. One of them is Kapuk.

Sutardjianto acknowledged that the mayoralty had not yet been able to control flooding in the Kapuk area, which is below sea level.

Jakarta has 80 trouble spots for flooding which constitute an area of about 24,000 ha, according to city data. (29)