Administration blamed for deluge<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Councillors have accused the city administrators for the
\nworsening flood conditions in the capital stemming from their
\nfailure to complete several flood-control projects by the end of
\nlast year as had been scheduled.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the council's Commission D for Development Affairs
\nSayogo Hendrosubroto said that the administration was unable
\ncomplete the public works due to poor fiscal management, having
\nspent just 40 percent of the total Rp 249 billion (US$24.9
\nmillion) allocated for them in the 2001 City Budget.<\/p>\n
\"It means that only 40 percent of the projects were realized.
\nIt demonstrates a poor the management of the budget,\" Sayogo, of
\nthe Indonesian Democratic Party, said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He added that he believes the failure of the city
\nadministration in completing the projects has contributed to the
\npoor preparation for the current flooding.<\/p>\n
Among the incomplete flood-control projects was the
\ndevelopment of a water dam in Daan Mogot area of West Jakarta.
\nPart of the dam collapsed on Monday due to an increase in the
\nwater level in the Sekretaris river.<\/p>\n
Thousands of homes in the area were flooded as a result.<\/p>\n
The administration conducted projects called \"river
\nnormalization programs,\" such as widening and dredging the river.<\/p>\n
But flooding persisted, nevertheless, especially along the
\nriverbanks.<\/p>\n
Separately, City Public Works Agency head IGKG Suena claimed
\nthat the administration had failed to complete the flood-control
\nprojects due to what he called a \"technical matter.\"<\/p>\n
\"We could not begin to tender the projects quickly because of
\nthe changes in the budget calculation from last year,\" Suena told
\nThe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Since last year, the budget was allocated starting in January;
\nearlier, it started in April.<\/p>\n
He said that two associations of construction firms were
\ninvolved in a dispute last year, which led to a delay in the
\ncompletion of the projects.<\/p>\n
Other projects, he added, could not be realized due to the
\nhigh price of land, sometimes as the result of the development of
\nland on water ponds.<\/p>\n
A total of Rp 40 billion was allocated for 50-hectare land
\nappropriation for development of the East Flood Canal in eastern
\nJakarta. Only 50 percent of the land could be acquired, however,
\nwhile half of that money went unused.<\/p>\n
Sueana, who was installed two months ago, went on to blame his
\npredecessor for the poor performance of his agency.<\/p>\n
Since 60 percent of the Rp 249 billion allocated for the flood
\ncontrol projects in 2001 was not spent, the fund would be added
\nto the 2002 budget, which amounted to a total of Rp 9.3 trillion,
\nofficials said.<\/p>\n
This year, city officials added, some Rp 294 billion would be
\nallocated for flood projects.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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