West Jakarta SDA Accelerates Water Channel Project in Kembangan Despite Business Complaints
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The West Jakarta Water Resources Sub-department (Sudin SDA) has confirmed it will strive to accelerate the completion of a water channel revitalisation project in the Jalan Haji Muchtar area of Joglo, Kembangan.
Head of the West Jakarta Sudin SDA, Mustajab, explained that the excavation work forms part of priority infrastructure for flood management in the area.
However, he stated that there would be no financial compensation allocated for business owners or food stall operators affected by the project works.
“There is none. This is a project to handle flood-control infrastructure there. We will explain this to residents,” said the Head of the West Jakarta Sudin SDA when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The response was given in reaction to complaints from stall owners on Jalan Haji Muchtar, who requested compensation after being forced to temporarily close their businesses. The business owners said road access to their stalls had been completely cut off due to the water channel excavation that began last week.
As a form of on-the-ground solution and care, Mustajab confirmed that his office, together with the implementing contractor, had prepared temporary crossing bridges made of steel plates or thick plywood for shops and stalls requiring access.
“For the stall businesses, we are preparing temporary bridges. The implementing provider is also ready. If for instance there is a section affected, we can provide a steel-plate bridge or thicker wooden planks — that can be done,” he explained.
In addition, his office promised to expedite the excavation process through to the installation of concrete channels (U-drains) along with their covers, so that the impact on the public would not be felt for too long.
“We are in fact accelerating the excavation and installation of the U-drains plus their covers. The point is that it must not take too long. We will issue another warning to the contractor so that areas are not dug up for too long without anything being installed,” he added.
The works in the Jalan Haji Muchtar area are targeted for completion within one month. The project forms part of an 800-metre water channel revitalisation stretching from the border of Petukangan Utara Urban Village (South Jakarta) to Joglo Urban Village (West Jakarta).
Overall, the works, which involve widening the channel and installing concrete culverts (box culverts), are scheduled to last four months, running from 5 July until October.
Previously, a stall owner in the Jalan Muchtar area of Joglo, Kembangan, West Jakarta, named Rusyanto, requested compensation from the Water Resources Office (SDA) after being forced to close his stall as a result of the water channel excavation in front of his business premises.
He said his stall had been closed since Sunday (19 July). Meanwhile, other stalls had shut some time ago, following the excavation work being carried out in stages.