Project News

On June 24, the Annual National Campaign for Sediment-Related Disaster Mitigation has been held in Palu City, Central Sulawesi, by the sponsorship of the Ministry of Public Works. This campaign has been held since 2002 for the purpose of increasing awareness of the local residents for sediment-related disaster.

About 200 people including local primary school children, people involved to the disaster prevention agencies, etc., have been participated in the campaign. Experts for ‘Banjir Bandang Disaster Mitigation Management Project’ have also been participated in this campaign.

In the opening ceremony, speeches have been given by the people concerned to the Central Sulawesi Province.  Toshiyasu Ueno, JICA Expert, has introduced to the audience that, in Japan, June is designated as the sediment-related disaster prevention month and various events are put on to enlighten the public. After the opening ceremony, various events have been put on; such as the lectures on the ‘sediment-related disasters and the countermeasures to cope with them’ have been given by Mr. Hariyono, Head of Sabo Technical Centre and Dr. Radianta, Professor of Gajamada Univeristy, the contest of pictures related to the sediment-related disasters and the like.

Palu City is surrounded by mountains and a large amount of earth and sand flown from the upstream have deposited on the riverbeds of Sombe Lewara River, which flow through the Palu City. Riverbed of those rivers has been deformed severely, which has flooded in the rainy season that has caused damages to the revetment works. Under such situation, it is requested to formulate an erosion and sediment control plan, which is consistent from the upstream to the downstream of the said rivers.

Photos: Junction of rivers; the left is Sombe River and the right is Lewara River.