The Jakarta DPRD Commission D, approved the proposed budget allocation for the construction of a waste filter in Ciliwung River amounting to Rp 197 billion filed by the Environment Department in a meeting on the 2020 budget priorities and preliminary threshold (KUA-PPAS), Monday (11/11).

According to Andono Warih, Head of Jakarta Environment Department, his side gets assistance from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) to draft the project design.

"It aims to prevent the flow of waste to the downstream. Moreover, during rainy season, piles of garbage could reach up to tenfold," he explained.

Eventually the filter will have three nets in order to accommodate large volumes of waste.

Jakarta DPRD Commission D Chairwoman Ida Mahmudah expressed that if the filter is effective, the department will be asked to install the same filter at a number of other points in the future.

"The point is we agree it to overcome piles of waste from the downstream," he stated.