Negligence on a Colossal Scale
The cause of the Situ Gintung dam collapse can be traced to the lack of upkeep and deforestation of the upstream area. All of the water drainage system was damaged. The clustering of residences below the dam is suspected of being a major contributing factor. Tempo discovered that even before the tragedy took place, damage was to be found on the dam.
April 7, 2009
A COPY of the letter was still kept on file at the office of the Cireundeu subdistrict (Ciputat district, South Tangerang), Banten. Checking the date when the document was sent in the correspondence log, subdistrict secretary Suharto Mardjuki explained that the letter addressed to the Head of the Office of Road Development & Maintenance of Tangerang Regency contained a report on the damage, and a request to repair the main floodgate at Situ Gintu
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