Jakarta not for flood tunnel: Expert, official

The central government and the city administration should reconsider the plan to construct a multipurpose deep tunnel for it would require high maintenance, an expert says.

The director of forestry and water resource conservation at the National Development Planning Board, Basah Hernowo, said Jakartans are not ready for such advanced technology.

"If the residents continue to throw away their garbage into the rivers, the deep tunnel will be clogged. The public should be educated on cleanliness," Basah told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday

He said the tunnel would require a strong structure because the ground in the city has been subsiding. Therefore, he said, construction would be expensive.

He said the administration should concentrate on the East Flood Canal construction and the maintenance of all dams and canals as it had not yet dredged the dams and canals in the city.

Deputy Governor Prijanto said the deep tunnel project is a long-term project whilst the East Flood Canal is a short-term one. He said the city administration is about to conduct a study on the deep tunnel project.

"The deep tunnel project will be made under the Ciliwung River, one of Jakarta's 13 rivers," he said.

"On the other hand, East Flood Canal, which serves North and East Jakarta, will run through five rivers," Prijanto told reporters at the City Hall.

Basah said if there is an urgency to build the project and enough funding for the construction, the government and city administration should seize the chance.

"The East Flood Canal would be sufficient to solve the flooding over the next five years. However, it is possible all dams and canals won't be able to channel the water 20 years from now," Basah said. "We should prepare for the future."

Previously, Vice President Jusuf Kalla demanded the Public Works Ministry and the administration carry out pre-feasibility and feasibility studies of the project.

A pre-feasibility study is estimated to cost US$400,000 while a feasibility study is $2 million. The Dutch and French governments have declared their willingness to finance the studies .

The tunnel project, which is estimated to cost $1.8 billion, will commence by the end of 2009. The 22-kilometer-long and 40-meter-wide tunnel will be constructed 18 meters below the ground, starting from Carrefour at Jl. M.T. Haryono, East Jakarta -Manggarai and Setiabudi, South Jakarta - Pluit and Muara Angke, North Jakarta.

There will be two levels of roadways and a wastewater reservoir beneath the roadways. The tunnel project, which will be able to absorb 250 cubic-meter of water per second, is expected to solve flood problem as well as producing potable water and electricity.  Tifa Asrianti

Post Date : 27 Maret 2008