Govt told to stop Hambalang

JAKARTA. Experts have recommended that the construction of sports facilities in Hambalang, West Java, should be discontinued as the site in which the graft-ridden project is located is a disaster-prone area and uninhabitable.

They said engineering technology could be availed of to allow the construction project to continue but it would require extra funding.

“It would be a lie if I said that the area on which the sports village is being built is inhabitable because it is not,” vulcanologist Surono said during a hearing with lawmakers at the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Surono, who chairs the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center, said he did a study of the land in Hambalang in 2002 after learning of a three-meter land subsidence nearby. “We concluded that the whole area was prone to disaster due to high pressure within the soil, and is thus uninhabitable,” he said.

He said specific technology could help deal with the issue. “Such technology was applied in the construction of the Cipularang [Cikampek-Purwakarta-Padalarang] toll road. The construction companies used a number of piles to slow down ground movement, especially around KM 95. But I have no idea how much it cost because it’s beyond my expertise,” Surono said.

Paulus Rahardjo, an expert in Geotechnical Engineering who also attended the hearing, confirmed Surono’s findings, adding that subsidence at Hambalang in May was due to the nature of the sedimentary clays in the soil that was easily pulped when exposed to water and cracked when exposed to the heat.

“It doesn’t only happen at Hambalang. Almost the whole area of West Java, including Bogor and Sentul, has a similar soil nature. However, this can be resolved by using soil-nailing techniques to strengthen the soil,” Paulus said.

Meanwhile, the companies in charge of the construction project have admitted that they did not conduct a feasibility study prior to starting the Rp 1.2 trillion (US$127.2 million) project.

“I admit that the project was not well planned. However, we conducted it based on a reference and a master plan issued by the Youth and Sports Ministry,” Yudi Wahyono, the director of PT Yoda Karya, said.

Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng has denied responsibility for the poor planning.

“My staffers told me that the process had followed the proper procedures. They never informed me about any problems with the project, including the lack of a feasibility study,” Andi said.

He said that he was optimistic the subsidence at the sports complex could be resolved with the help of the engineering technology recommended by experts. Lawmaker Agus Hermanto, who chairs the House’s working committee dealing with the Hambalang project, said his commission had not given a green light to possible additional funds.

“We still need to get a second opinion on the matter, and thus we will invite other experts,” Agus said.

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chief Abraham Samad said the commission would focus on indications of budget markups .

“We have found strong indications of marking up in this project. We need to unearth more supporting evidence. Up to this date, we haven’t named anyone as a suspect in the case,” he said.

Deputy chief Busyro Muqoddas said the KPK would focus on the Hambalang athlete training center’s alleged mark up of construction funding from the previous Rp 200 billion to Rp 1.5 trillion.

When asked whether the commission would also examine Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum’s ownership of an upmarket automobile, which was allegedly given by PT Adhi Karya management as a token of gratitude for letting them in as general contractor in the Hambalang project, Abraham promised that the KPK would look into it.

The KPK is reported to have questioned at least 70 people about graft in the project, including Anas and his party colleague Andi. (Margareth S. Aritonang and Dicky Christanto/The Jakarta Post)