Waiting for Ciawi-Sukamahi Dam

People are waiting for the Ciawi and Sukamahi dry dams in Bogor, West Java to begin operating. The completion of the dam project will also end the impact that the dam construction project is currently having on local res

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Ciawi and Sukamahi Dam Projects - Sukamahi Dam Landscape in Sukamahi, Bogor Regency, West Java, which is still in the completion stage, Wednesday (2/2/2022).

Exploring Pandansari village in Ciawi district, Bogor, West Java, you will find that most of the houses in the village are facing the Cibalok River. As the crow flies, the beautiful Pandansari is about 4.6 kilometers below the Ciawi Dam project.

Under the Ciawi Dam, there are indeed several sluice gates, one of which is the Cibalok sluice gate. This sluice is upstream of the Cibalok irrigation channel that crosses Pandansari village before reaching the Katulampa sluice.

The Ciawi Dam and the adjacent Sukamahi Dam are the first dry dam projects in Indonesia, which began in 2017. Once scheduled for completion in 2019, the project, supervised by the Ciliwung-Cisadane Flood Control Office (BBWSCC) of the Public Works and Housing Ministry, has been delayed and rescheduled for operation in mid-2022.

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The delay in the Ciawi-Sukamahi project has affected the lives of the residents of Pandansari village, which is inhabited by 2,234 families. The villagers have to live with the murky Cibalok water due to the dam project.

Odang (36), for example, like some other residents in Pandansari, has been living on a fishpond business using Cibalok water, which used to be clear and clean. However, since the dry dam project started about five years ago, the river water has become muddy. The dam project has affected Odang’s fishponds on the edge of the Cibalok for almost 18 years.

Of the four ponds owned by Odang, only two are still producing. The production of the fish, mainly carp and tilapia, is now less than half the roughly 3 tons recorded before the dam project began. “These fish need clean running water. In order to grow well, fish need circulation of clean water," he said, Tuesday (15/2/2022).

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Problems with the Ciawi and Sukamahi Dam Projects - Damage to the body of a carp in a pond maintenance for residents of Pandansari, Bogor Regency, West Java, was caused by the flow of the Cibalok River which was polluted by project soil and mud, Friday (4/2/2022). Problems Ciliwung River is currently cloudy mixed with mud due to the construction project of the Ciawi Dam and Sukamahi Dam.

The father of two children showed carp fish whose scales were damaged and some of them had died. "I hope this difficult situation will pass soon," said Odang.

Yandi (21), who runs a fishing pond business owned by his family, has a similar problem. His two fishing ponds have not been as crowded since the Ciawi-Sukamahi project started. From Friday to Sunday each week, only about 20 people fish in his ponds. Whereas previously, at least 50, if not hundreds of people, fished in his ponds.

Water from the Cibalok also cannot be used to meet the residents’ daily needs, especially those who live close to the river. There is no more clean water for bathing, washing and for daily consumption needs at home.

Pandansari is not the only area the Ciliwung River passes where the water has turned brown. Other areas affected by the dam project also include the Ciawi and Megamendung subdistricts, Bogor regency and the Katulampa sluice gate in Bogor city.

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The director for dams and lakes at the Water Resources Directorate General, Public Works and Housing Ministry, Airlangga Mardjono, said his office was aware about the complaints of residents and had warned parties involved in the dam project to be careful in maintaining the quality of the water. "Because we know that Ciliwung water is still clean. Hopefully it can be resolved," he said.

"This is a process, we should first check in the field. We are open to change. This is one of the risks in infrastructure development," he said.

According to Hidayat Pawitan, a professor of hydrology of water resources at IPB University, the construction of a dam generally uses a water diversion system so that the water in the downstream area will be cloudy due to the project. However, the impact of the project should have been anticipated early on, he added.

Now, residents hope the construction of the Ciawi-Sukamahi Dam will be completed on schedule in the middle of this year. In addition to hoping that the water of the upper Ciliwung area will be clear and clean again, the dam project will benefit people in Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi (Jabodetabek).

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.