The Jakarta North Water Resources Agency (SDA) keeps optimizing the dredging of mud in the Cakung Lama River that crosses the areas of Kelapa Gading, Cilincing, and Koja sub-districts.

North Jakarta SDA Sub-Agency's Maintenance Section Head, Yudi Widiatmoko said the dredging is part of the flood management program in the area. The dredging starts from the Kelapa Gading area to the Bulak Cabe Water Pump in Cilincing.

"The work, divided into 18 segments, has been underway since November 2024," he said, Friday (5/2).

He explained this work started from the first segment of the Pegangsaan Dua area near PT Jamafac Cricket up to Grand Orchard. Then, in the sixth segment of the Semper Barat area from Mushala Nurul Ikhlas to the RW 04 Secretariat office on Jalan Pinggir Sungai C.

He explained the main obstacle faced is the narrowness of the riverbed and the difficulty of accessing heavy equipment. As a result, many dredging locations were also done manually.

"The work progress has touched 12 percent due to narrow access. But, it is targeted to be done at least two years," he explained.

He added it was carried out along 8.75 kilometers with a mud depth of 2.5 to three meters adjusted to environmental conditions.

"4,500 sacks of mud have been collected so far. We plan to dispose them to the Ancol dumping site," he continued.

Hopefully, it could minimize flooding in the rainy season.

The action above received appreciation from Semper Barat Urban Village Head, Sukarmin.

"We also monitor the progress of this dredging. Hope it can really minimize flooding when it rains," he said.