Banten, West Java, Jakarta team up to save ponds<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In an attempt to mitigate worsening floods year in and year out
\nas well as the water crisis in Jakarta, authorities from Banten,
\nWest Java and Jakarta provinces signed on Wednesday an agreement
\nto participate in the preservation of situ or water catchment
\nreservoirs in their respective regions.<\/p>\n
\"These areas hold a crucial role in the flood control system,\"
\nsaid State Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim following
\nthe signing ceremony at City Hall.<\/p>\n
He said that despite their crucial function -- many of the
\nponds and reservoirs can retain up to 30 million cubic meters of
\nwater -- far too many in Greater Jakarta had been severely
\ndamaged or entirely wiped out.<\/p>\n
\"Of the 198 water bodies in Greater Jakarta, as many as 134,
\nor 68 percent of them, cannot function properly as water
\ncatchment areas,\" Nabiel said.<\/p>\n
Nine ponds have been converted into residential areas or dump
\nsites, while two ponds in Tangerang were converted into rice
\nfields, he added.<\/p>\n
The government had earlier began to raise concerns about the
\npoor condition of the catchment areas in 1994 with the
\nestablishment of the Water Resource Conservation and Development
\nAgency under the then Ministry of Public Works, now the Ministry
\nof Settlements and Regional Infrastructure.<\/p>\n
However, the project never really took off, apparently due to
\nfinancial constraints. They only managed to revive 27 reservoirs
\nsince 2002, so now the central government is seeking help from
\nregents and governors.<\/p>\n
The three provinces have often blamed each other when floods
\noccur, pointing out the destruction in the Puncak mountainous
\nresort for villas as the main cause.<\/p>\n
Wednesday's agreement was signed by Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso,
\nWest Java Governor Danny Setiawan, Banten Governor D. Munandar
\nwho was represented by his deputy Ratu Atut Chosiah, Bogor Mayor
\nDiani Budiarto, Bogor Regent Agus Utara Effendi, Tangerang Mayor
\nWahidin Halim, Tangerang Regent Ismet Iskandar, Bekasi Mayor
\nAkhmad Zurfaih, Bekasi Regent Saleh Manaf and Depok Mayor Badrul
\nKamal.<\/p>\n
Nabiel, Minister of Settlements and Regional Infrastructure
\nSoenarno and Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno acted as
\nwitnesses.<\/p>\n
The agreement was consistent with the recommendation made by
\nmany environmentalists and urban planners, who have long urged
\nthe Jakarta administration to join hands with neighboring
\ncommunities to tackle flood woes effectively.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said the cooperative efforts would start this year
\nand last at least until 2011.<\/p>\n
\"All signatories are committed to conserve existing reservoirs
\nand fix the ruined ones in their respective regions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The agreement also required the signatories to establish a
\njoint team to monitor the pond preservation and recovery program.<\/p>\n
Other clauses in the agreement say that the funding for the
\nprogram as well as the operational costs of the joint team would
\nbe derived from the budget of the respective administrations plus
\nthe national budget.<\/p>\n
(bisa dipotong)<\/p>\n
Danny Setiawan said that his administration would further
\ncooperate with the Jakarta administration in coping with other
\nproblems, such as population, settlement and traffic.<\/p>\n
\"We have discussed those problems, but we will sign other
\nagreements for those later on,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/banten-west-java-jakarta-team-up-to-save-ponds-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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