SIDOARJO, KOMPAS.com - The Sidoardjo Mud Handling Agency (Badan Penanggulangan Lumpur Sidoarjo/BPSL) plans to construct a new reservoir to smooth the mud stream from the storage pool to the Porong River. "The new reservoir will be located on the southern side of the old reservoir that has been used for chanelling the mud," said Akhmad Kusairi, deputy head of BPS’s public relations bureau here on Saturday, adding that the new reservoir was expected to smooth the mud stream.
The new reservoir would be some 60 hectares wide and situated inside three different villages, Besuki, Kedungcangkring and Pejarakan, in Jabon subdistrict, Sidoarjo district. The new reservoir will mainly function as a duct leading from the center of mudflow southwards to the Porong River.
Kusairi said the new reservoir basically will function as a short-cut for the mudflow between its center and the Porong River. It will also help lessen the burden of the existing reservoir which is already overloaded.
The construction of the new reservoir, he added, is financed from the 2010 budget and to be finalized in the 2011 fiscal year. Currently the embankment work is already in progress with a height of 9.0 meters above sea level and 30 meter wide.
"We have prepared a strong design for this reservoir and it is expected it will be able to withstand the pressure of the mud," Kusairi said, adding that BPLS has had several scenarios to strengthen the wall of the reservoir to avoid spillover to Porong road.
The Lapindo mud disaster started with a major eruption of hot fluids and mud on 29 May 2006 close to the 2.8 km deep Banjar Panji-1 (BJP-1) exploration well, drilled by PT Lapindo near Sidoarjo in East Java which has caused the displacement of up to 40,000 people living in the now flooded areas.
The new reservoir would be some 60 hectares wide and situated inside three different villages, Besuki, Kedungcangkring and Pejarakan, in Jabon subdistrict, Sidoarjo district. The new reservoir will mainly function as a duct leading from the center of mudflow southwards to the Porong River.
Kusairi said the new reservoir basically will function as a short-cut for the mudflow between its center and the Porong River. It will also help lessen the burden of the existing reservoir which is already overloaded.
The construction of the new reservoir, he added, is financed from the 2010 budget and to be finalized in the 2011 fiscal year. Currently the embankment work is already in progress with a height of 9.0 meters above sea level and 30 meter wide.
"We have prepared a strong design for this reservoir and it is expected it will be able to withstand the pressure of the mud," Kusairi said, adding that BPLS has had several scenarios to strengthen the wall of the reservoir to avoid spillover to Porong road.
The Lapindo mud disaster started with a major eruption of hot fluids and mud on 29 May 2006 close to the 2.8 km deep Banjar Panji-1 (BJP-1) exploration well, drilled by PT Lapindo near Sidoarjo in East Java which has caused the displacement of up to 40,000 people living in the now flooded areas.
