ID :
53192
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 21:43
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/53192
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SCIENTIST FEARS TRAGEDY TO HAPPEN AT OTHER RI DAMS
Bandung, W Java, March 31 (ANTARA) - A scientist at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) has expressed fear tragedies like the Situ Gintung dam burst in Tangerang will recur at other dams unless the necessary preventive steps are taken.
"Similar tragedies will happen in the future unless monitoring and conservation afforts are carried out at the country's other reservoirs," LIPI geo-technology researcher Dr Edi Prasetyo said here on Tuesday.
He said in order to maintain other dams the government should take a lesson from the collapse of the Situ Gintung dam and take immediate steps to conserve other dams.
The LIPI researcher said it was believed the Situ Gintung reservoir tragedy had occurred due to lack of supervision and monitoring on the dam.
The Situ Gintung reservoir broke its sluice gate and embankment on Friday morning last week, allowing water from its 20-hectare lake to rush out and inundate about 300 houses in its immediate proximity, killing 99 people and causing over 100 others to go missing.
The disaster has displaced a total of 368 people.
The Situ Gintung disaster prompted many quarters to urge the authorities to pay greater attention to over 200 dams in the capital city and its satellite towns of Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi (Jabodetabek).
"The government should revitalize about 200 lakes in the Jabodetabek area so that they can continue to hold back water when heavy rain falls in upstream regions." Erwin Rustam, campaigner for food and water availability of the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) said meanwhile over the weekend.
The change in the function and water catchments has caused the decline in the number of reservoirs in the Jabodetabek areas.
According to Walhi, at least 56 lakes had disappeared due to lack of conservations.
"The number of dams in the Jabodetabek area has declined from 240 in 2004 to 184 in 2009 while the government always claimed that there are over 200 lakes at present," Erwin Rustam said.***3***
"Similar tragedies will happen in the future unless monitoring and conservation afforts are carried out at the country's other reservoirs," LIPI geo-technology researcher Dr Edi Prasetyo said here on Tuesday.
He said in order to maintain other dams the government should take a lesson from the collapse of the Situ Gintung dam and take immediate steps to conserve other dams.
The LIPI researcher said it was believed the Situ Gintung reservoir tragedy had occurred due to lack of supervision and monitoring on the dam.
The Situ Gintung reservoir broke its sluice gate and embankment on Friday morning last week, allowing water from its 20-hectare lake to rush out and inundate about 300 houses in its immediate proximity, killing 99 people and causing over 100 others to go missing.
The disaster has displaced a total of 368 people.
The Situ Gintung disaster prompted many quarters to urge the authorities to pay greater attention to over 200 dams in the capital city and its satellite towns of Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi (Jabodetabek).
"The government should revitalize about 200 lakes in the Jabodetabek area so that they can continue to hold back water when heavy rain falls in upstream regions." Erwin Rustam, campaigner for food and water availability of the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) said meanwhile over the weekend.
The change in the function and water catchments has caused the decline in the number of reservoirs in the Jabodetabek areas.
According to Walhi, at least 56 lakes had disappeared due to lack of conservations.
"The number of dams in the Jabodetabek area has declined from 240 in 2004 to 184 in 2009 while the government always claimed that there are over 200 lakes at present," Erwin Rustam said.***3***
