"We maximize (the use of) all the heavy equipment and fleet we have in the city," Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria informed at Jakarta City Hall on Monday.
Dredging is being undertaken to reduce the volume of river water during the rainy season and release water that is usually clogged due to garbage, he explained.
Officers deployed to utilize the heavy equipment are working from morning to evening, Patria said.
Earlier, Jakarta's Water Resources Office (SDA) had said that it will conduct step-by-step mud dredging until December 2021.
Head of the capital's water resources office, Yusmada Faizal, said 408 personnel from five areas of the city have been deployed along with 46 excavators and 123 trucks for the task.
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Based on data from the Jakarta SDA, the office is aiming to dredge 12,060 cubic meters of mud in Krukut River - Bendungan Hilir Boulevard segment - Menara Batavia, he informed.
Dredging work has continued along a 1.2-km stretch along Krukut River - Jenderal Sudirman Avenue segment - Gatot Subroto Avenue Segment, with the target set at 5,338 cubic meters, Faizal said.
The office is targeting to dredge 17,920 cubic meters of mud from the Sunter Front Segment of the Rawa Badak Pump and 8,400 cubic meters from the Front Segment of Mall Artha Gading, he added.
In addition, 36 thousand cubic meters of mud is targeted to be dredged from the Mookervart Semanan River - Rawa Buaya segment and 44,197 cubic meters from the Munjul Reservoir, he said.
Meanwhile, the Jakarta provincial government, through the Jakarta Environment Office, has readied 8,945 personnel, for garbage handling in the river, he informed.
Furthermore, 1,543 units of garbage transportation, 118 units of heavy equipment, 47 units of automatic cleaning vehicles, and 50 sets of pontoon boats have been prepared for the task, he said.
Patria also said he expected the community to participate in the effort by avoiding throwing garbage carelessly to prevent flooding.
"The community should not litter, keep the environment and gutters clean," he advised.
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Translator: Dewa W, Kenzu T
Editor: Suharto
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