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Govt weighs options for battling the sludge
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 05/29/2007 8:38 AM
Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Sidoarjo
The government is still considering a ""counterweight dam"" offered by the Japanese government to stop the mudflow in Sidoarjo, East Java.
Deputy head of operations at the Sidoarjo Mudflow Mitigation Agency (BPLS), Soffian Hadi, told The Jakarta Post his office would review all proposals offering solutions to the problem, including the counterweight dam method.
Several proposals have been submitted by agencies, higher-learning institutes and experts; all suggesting ways to stop the flow of hot mud. Several methods have been tried, including dropping concrete balls into the mudflow crater, a technique devised by the Bandung Institute of Technology, and a relief well.
""We don't want to make a hasty decision on which method we should use to stop the mudflow. We want to be mindful of the safety of workers and residents...we don't want to apply a method that will turn out to be fatal,"" Soffian said.
Soffian said the BPLS was making concerted efforts to channel mud into the Porong River to strengthen embankments, in order to prevent mud from spreading to other areas.
""We are working hard. We don't have time to smoke, let alone relax. If one of us stops working, the embankments will most definitely collapse,"" he said.
Despite this, Soffian said the concrete ball insertion method had shown results. The flow of mud, he said, has receded from 126,000 cubic meters per day to around 100,000 cubic meters.
""However, we will still evaluate the concrete ball insertion method. The BPLS plans to hold a meeting with experts to further discuss technical measures in order to minimize every possible risk.""
A number of experts, including a former chairman of the Association of Indonesian Geologists, Andang Bachtiar, and Amien Widodo from Surabaya's 10 November Institute of Technology (ITS), are of the opinion the mudflow is unstoppable, regardless of any method applied.
Other experts remain positive the mudflow can be plugged. Experts from ITB, who devised the concrete ball technique, claim a reduction in the mudflow after they successfully dropped chains of concrete balls into the opening.
An alumnus, from ITS, Jaja Laksana, said the mudflow could be plugged by applying a counterpressure dam method. This is similar to the counterweight dam proposed by James Mori from Tokyo University, in Japan.
""I proposed the same method in September last year, but people just laughed at it. Now, after I've patented it, the government wants to trust Japanese experts over their fellow countrymen,"" he said.
""I don't know.... It's no longer a secret that the mudflow problem has attracted many interested parties. I will file a lawsuit (against the government) if the Japanese method is used.""
""I perfected the method, through measuring the speed of the mud surge in relation to the gush hole and mud discharge. My calculations are somewhat different from those submitted by Mori, but I'm sure my findings will be used to support the Japanese project.""
Jaja said the cost of applying his technique was cheaper than that offered by the Japanese. The Japanese project is estimated at around Rp 600 billion, while Jaja's project is estimated at Rp 400 billion.
However, the head of ITS' Disaster Study Center Amien Widodo said the counterweight dam technique, as well as other techniques, would be unable to stop the mudflow. He said new gush points and subduction zones would appear in other areas if plugging methods were used.
""I'm certain the mudflow will naturally form a mound, but we can prevent the mud from spreading to other areas,"" Amien told the Post.
He said the most effective way to contain the mudflow was to make a large embankment encircling the gush point, at a radius of around five kilometers. The dense mud and gravel will spread to form a mound and the muddy water will be processed and dumped into the Porong River.
""However, several questions remain to be answered: Is the government ready to sacrifice the railway line and highway? And is Lapindo prepared to compensate residents for their homes and land outside the previous settlement reached between residents and the government?"" said Amien.
Lapindo Brantas Inc. is the company at the center of the mudflow disaster.
Despite the cost, Amien says his method will minimize the mud spreading to other areas.
""It all depends on the government's decision; whether it wants to sacrifice its political interests, or the interests of its people.
