#ULOG 12 : Reduce the Risk of Floods in Palembang, 1 Hectare Retention Pool Built

Img source : mirolape.com

The Sumatra VIII Center for River Region (BBWS), Directorate General of Water Resources, Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), normalizes rivers and builds flood pumps in the lower reaches of the Bendung River which are equipped with retention ponds and automatic sluice gates.

The effort was carried out to reduce the risk of flooding in Palembang City, South Sumatra, as well as the social, economic and environmental impacts caused by the flood of the Bendung River which empties into the Musi River.

During this time the water in the Bendung River often overflowed and resulted in flooding of up to 285 hectares of land because in the rainy season there was a backwater from the Musi River.

This resulted in significant disruption of activities and productivity of local residents due to the status and dynamics of the city of Palembang as a metropolitan.

Normalization of the Bendung River was carried out along 5.5 kilometers by strengthening river cliffs. Whereas a 1-hectare retention pond in the Sungai Bendung estuary has a capacity of 50,000 cubic meters to hold water during the rainy season.

The pool is equipped with six pumps, each with a capacity of 6,000 liters per second and building pump houses and generators. This flood pump serves to drive water from the Bendung River to the Musi River.

The construction of ponds and flood control pumps is located on Aligatmir Road, Ilir Timur III Subdistrict, Palembang City.

PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono also took the time to review the location of the construction of the flood control facilities while conducting activities related to the 2018 Asian Games in Palembang.

He said, non-structural approaches such as the habits of the community not to throw garbage into the river also play an important role in reducing the risk of flooding.

"BBWS as a water manager must act decisively if there are people who throw garbage randomly into the river. Other efforts are at least by providing bins on the banks of the river," Basuki said in a written statement on Wednesday (08/29/2018).

He added, coordination with the Cipta Karya Working Unit in the region must also be done so that the country's assets can be maintained according to their functions.

The BBWS Sumatra VIII also involved the TNI to create the Bendung River which was clean of garbage.

"I have communicated with the Commander of the Sriwijaya Commander so that this goal can be achieved effectively," Basuki said.