Malang, (malangkota.go.id) – The Malang City Government (Pemkot) continues to strive to resolve the flooding and puddles that often occur in several areas during heavy rain. One of them is by collaborating with academics from the Faculty of Engineering (FT) of Brawijaya University (UB) to prepare a drainage masterplan for Malang City.
The masterplan is very important as a foundation for handling strategic issues of flooding and inundation which are expected to be integrated with regional development plans, spatial plans, and sectoral plans related to disasters, climate change adaptation and mitigation and others.
This was stated by the Head of the Malang City PUPRPKP Service, Ir. Diah Ayu Kusumadewi, MT during a dialogue with the leadership and expert team at the FT UB Dean's building, Thursday (14/4/2022).
"This drainage masterplan (later) will be a true reference, the book, how we move. We want to complete not per point, but the entire system," said Diah.
The woman in hijab who has been entrusted as the Head of DPUPRPKP since July 2021 added that the growth in population and activities in Malang City, which has not changed in area, has consequences for the need for built-up space and all its impacts.
This has a significant impact on drainage conditions along with a number of other factors, such as inadequate existing channel dimensions, drainage that has not been fully integrated into one system, the influence of climate change that triggers extreme rainfall, and public awareness in protecting the environment.
Diah added, short-term steps continue to be taken such as cleaning channels by the city and sub-district drainage task force, diversions, planning of bozem and others. However, comprehensive steps are needed for the effectiveness of the performance of the Malang City drainage system.
Therefore, he said, the drainage masterplan that will be prepared is expected to be able to inventory all channels and networks, evaluate the capacity and characteristics of existing channels, map drainage area plans (DAD), and plan the development of drainage channels to a spatial map depth of 1:2.000.
In addition, it also includes the design of operations and maintenance of each section as well as program indications and cost estimates per year towards the target of zero inundation by 2028.
Meanwhile, Dean of FT UB Prof. Ir. Hadi Suyono, ST., MT., Ph.D IPU ASEAN Eng welcomed the cooperation initiative initiated by the Malang City Government, as a form of openness to involve the intellectual assets of universities in development.
"Through this collaboration, we hope to provide real contributions to help solve urban problems in Malang City, especially drainage," he explained.
The team of experts that will be deployed to oversee the process of preparing the drainage master plan includes various expertise. Among them are civil experts, irrigation experts, and spatial planning experts owned by FT UB.
During the discussion, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed for drainage planning between the Malang City Government and FT UB. The drainage masterplan is targeted to be completed in eight months, so that it can be immediately utilized to present a comprehensive solution that can be felt by the community. (ndu/ram)
