Alternatives in handling floods<\/p>\n
Recently there has been a lot of coverage on the flooding and
\nthe financial and social problems it has caused; the kampong in
\nmy own area being a victim. The governor seems to be blamed the
\nmost.<\/p>\n
Having lived here for over 20 years ... this is nothing new.
\nDevelopment in Puncak under previous administrations and other
\nareas where it should never have been allowed are also a major
\ncause of the floods. A classic example is the airport toll road.
\nAnother of course is an antiquated flood management system which
\nseems to have hardly changed since the Dutch times.<\/p>\n
My understanding is until only few years ago the
\nresponsibility of flood management in Jakarta was solely in the
\nhands of the central government, not the governor. Ex governor
\nAli Sadikin mentioned something to that extent in a recent
\ninterview in Kompas.<\/p>\n
Frankly any governor would be facing the same problem today.
\nTaking over that position during a five-year monetary crisis with
\nsignificant changes in the government and decades of inactivity
\nwith regards flood management do not make this an easy job.<\/p>\n
Now that the Jakarta administration is responsible, the City
\nCouncil should be supporting the governor in these type of
\nprograms and providing whatever assistance is required to raise
\nfunding. In the end they are equally responsible for the success
\nor failure of the governor in power.<\/p>\n
This flooding problem is now an extraordinary budget item
\nwhich requires additional and urgent funding over the next three
\nto five years. Given that drainage is hardly an attractive
\nforeign investment opportunity the City Council will have to
\nconsider alternatives.<\/p>\n
DAVID WHITAKER<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/alternatives-in-handling-floods-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }