Lapindo will make canal to Porong River

PT Lapindo Brantas Inc and the Ministry of Public Works will build a canal connecting to Porong River to move the mudflow in that direction, the Media Indonesia reported Saturday.

?We will divert the mudflow to Porong River by building a canal. This will be the last scenario when the rain season begins later,? Sudarsono, a manager of Lapindo, told the Media Indonesia in Sidoarjo on Friday.

But Sudarsono made it clear that this emergency step will be taken only after all other efforts like building embankments and closure of wells fails.

Meanwhile, Lapindo management said the new mud-flow source spotted Thursday in Jatirejo village was likely caused by downward pressure of the mud caused by the retaining ponds the company had built.

The company?s East Java general manager Rawindra said the new materials used to strengthen the ponds likely stopped the mud from flowing up its normal route. Instead the mud pushed through cracks in the ground and found its way to the surface in a new place, he said. (*)