Two Dams to be Built in Konawe to Solve Flooding Problems

KOMPAS/SAIFUL RIJAL YUNUS

Two brothers ask for donations from motorists on Thursday (20/6/2019) in Pondidaha, Konawe regency, Southeast Sulawesi. Severe flooding has inundated four regions in the province, where thousands of families have bee forced to evacuate. The cause of the disaster has been attributed to the rapid conversion of forest areas and critical watersheds for industry and large-scale plantations.

KONAWE, KOMPAS — The central government will prioritize the construction of two dams in Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi to solve the flooding problem in the regency. The dams will be used as water reservoirs to prevent flooding in the future. However, the main cause of the flooding must also be resolved.

Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said Thursday that the dams to be constructed would be the Ameroro and Pelosika dams. "This year, the construction of the Ameroro Dam will be tendered as part of the development of 49 dams planned by the government. The dam will have a capacity of 40 million cubic meters. In 2020, there will be the construction of a bigger dam, Pelosika Dam, on the main river Konawe," he said when visiting the location of floods in Konawe.

A number of members of the House of Representatives’ Commission V, Southeast Sulawesi Governor Ali Mazi, and the vice chairman of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Maj. Gen. Nugroho Budi Wiryanto also joined the trip. Hundreds of houses and a number of roads were still submerged by the floods with a depth of up to 1 meter.

Basuki said, another dam, the Ladongi Dam in the East Kolaka area, was under construction and it had been 50 percent completed. When all three dams are completed, the handling of the floods will be easier. The floods will be directed to the dams first before being released into the river.

"For short-term plans, a number of new embankments will be built to replace the existing ones, which have been destroyed by the floods, and on banks of rivers that have also been damaged by the floods,” Basuki added.

Water Resources Director General at the ministry, Hadi Suprayogi, said construction of the Ameroro Dam would be tendered in August, which will cost about Rp 1.2 trillion.

The Pelosika Dam is being designed. "According to the plan, it will be a financed loan. It’s value is being calculated. It will be a multi-year project. It will have a capacity of 800 million cubic meters. We hope that the people and the local government will help in land acquisition,” Hadi added.

Plans for the construction of the Pelosika Dam had previously been met with protests from locals because it would cover a large area. With the construction of a number of dams, said Hadi, flood control will be better.

However, the flood will not disappear at all, especially if the upstream area is damaged and the forest is replaced by mining or oil palm plantations. Therefore, all sectors need to work together to prevent flooding.

Overcoming the causes of flooding

Meanwhile, Ridwan Bae, a member of the House of Representatives Commission V, said the government should resolve the main causes of the flooding despite the dam construction plan.

KOMPAS/SAIFUL RIJAL YUNUS

Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono (center right, with mustache) discusses flood management measures for the Wawotobi Dam on Thursday (20/6/2019) with Southeast Sulawesi Governor Ali Mazi (far left) and House of Representatives (DPR) Commission V members in Uepai district, Konawe regency, Southeast Sulawesi. The government has promised to provide post-disaster management for both the short and medium term to tackle the severe flooding that has inundated four regions in the province for more than two weeks.

"Not only providing assistance, but also having to deal with problems that cause flooding. Were the business permits issued through correct procedures? Do the mining activities also contribute to the flooding? Such issues must be explored," he said.

Ridwan asked for the formation of a special team to find the main causes of flooding. A number of ministries, such as the Environment and Forestry Ministry and Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, and the Agriculture Ministry as well as academics and local governments, need to jointly conduct studies and research.

Flooding continues to inundate four regencies in Southeast Sulawesi, namely Konawe, North Konawe, South Konawe, and East Kolaka. The Southeast Sulawesi provincial government estimates that the cost of the rehabilitation of infrastructure destroyed by the floods could reach Rp 700 billion.

The severe flooding was reportedly exacerbated by large-scale mining and plantation industries.

Southeast Sulawesi Governor Ali Mazi said he would not guess the cause of the flooding before research was conducted. He would involve many academics, experts, consultants and ministries to conduct research and analysis of the causes of flooding.

ANTARA/JOJON

The damaged Ameroro Bridge stands over the muddy Konaweha River on Thursday (20/6/2019) following severe flooding in Uepai district, Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi. One end of the bridge collapsed when the river overflowed, cutting off the Trans-Sulawesi highway connecting the provinces of Southeast Sulawesi and South Sulawesi.

"We first analyzed the cause. The number of mining permits that have been issued is 393, but only tens have begun operation. Those that have been declared clean and clear [CnC] are around 60 percent," he said.

He promised that he would revoke all mining permits that had not passed CnC audits. A permit is deemed CnC if the issuance of the permit does not violate regulations and its mining areas do not overlaps with other mining areas.

The North Konawe regent, Ruksamin, said severe flooding that devastated the regency had a major impact on a number of sectors. In addition to displaced victims and houses submerged under the water, 370 houses were washed away by the floods.

ANTARA FOTO/JOJON

A motorcycle hangs suspended from a tree where its owner placed it for safety on Wednesday (19/6/2019) in Hongua village, Pondidaha district, Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi. Local residents have continued with their daily routines, although an emergency status has been declared for the flooded village. Floodwaters have started to recede in Konawe regency, but 4,718 families still remain at evacuation camps.

The loss due to flooding was estimated at Rp 674 billion. "The victims affected by the flood were 18,765 families or 31 percent of our population. We are trying to resolve all the problems. The evacuation by the SAR team as well as assistance from the BNPB [National Disaster Management Agency] and a number of other agencies greatly helped us," he said. (JAL)