Jakarta. The Jakarta administration has begun dredging the Krukut Tributary in Kebon Melati, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, after nearly 60 years without a major dredging operation. It plans to revamp the 2.3-kilometer stretch starting in early 2027 without displacing residents.

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung said dredging would not be the government's only measure. The Jakarta administration also plans to build retaining walls along both sides of the tributary, improve bathing, washing, and toilet facilities, and add more greenery to create a public space.

"If we only dredge it, the problem will definitely return, even though it has been nearly 60 years since it was last dredged. But for me, that is not enough, so we will turn this into a properly organized area," Pramono said while monitoring the dredging of the Krukut Tributary on Monday.

According to Pramono, the revamp will be carried out without displacing residents who have lived along the tributary for decades. The government, he said, will organize the area while taking the local community into consideration.

"Because this is an area revamp, we will not carry out evictions. What we are doing is organizing the area and making it more orderly," he said.

The revamp is planned to cover the entire 2.3-kilometer stretch. Pramono said the area would also be made greener so it could serve as a public space as well as an example of how to address infrastructure problems in densely populated areas.

He asked the head of the Jakarta Water Resources Agency to present the revamp plan next week. Physical work is targeted to begin in early 2027, while significant changes to the area are expected to take one to two years and become visible by 2028.

The dredging process is currently facing challenges because the Krukut Tributary runs through a densely populated settlement with narrow roads. Three mini spider excavators are being used to remove sediment from the waterway.

The dredged material cannot be transported directly by trucks because of limited access. The material must first be moved in stages before being loaded onto transport trucks.

Pramono called for the entire 2.3-kilometer stretch to be dredged so that the work would not stop at simply removing sediment.

However, the government also faces the challenge of residents' behavior after the dredging is completed. Pramono urged residents not to return to dumping waste into the tributary, as it could block the water flow and cause flooding problems again.

"There is no point in making improvements if people continue to have the habit of throwing garbage into the river," he said.

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