Capital needs funds for flood prevention<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso has said that a shortage of
\nfunds is preventing the city administration from taking measures
\nto guard against the possibility of major flooding which
\nmeteorologists have said could hit the city in the near future.<\/p>\n
He said the administration would only be able to focus on
\nhelping flood victims rather than taking precautionary measures
\nto prevent the flooding which could affect up to one-fifth of
\nJakarta's 10 million population.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said that river dredging and waterway diversion was
\nbeyond the financial means of the city administration, which has
\nbeen badly hit by the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
\"Funds to dredge rivers and divert waterways are simply not
\navailable under the current circumstances. They would require
\ntens of billions of rupiah,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that Jakartans living in areas prone to flooding
\nshould prepare themselves mentally for inundation.<\/p>\n
\"To tell you the truth, the thought of La Nia has horrified
\nme,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The Meteorology and Geophysics Bureau (BMG) warned Jakartans
\nof the possibility of flooding due to the La Nia weather
\nphenomenon after rainfall exceeded normal levels in July.<\/p>\n
The bureau estimated that the number of people affected by the
\nfloods could be more than double the number in 1996, when Jakarta
\nwas hit by the worst flooding in its history.<\/p>\n
Data from the city public works agency reveals that 40 percent
\nof the capital is build on low lying areas and that river
\nchannels in Jakarta are extremely narrow.<\/p>\n
The administration has already taken several steps to prepare
\nfor a deluge of flood victims, including the staging of a flood
\nprevention parade in the National Monument park in Central
\nJakarta last month. Over 4,000 employees from the relevant
\nagencies and institutions in the city took part in the parade.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, flood rescue teams staged a demonstration of
\ntheir skills for officials from the city administration and the
\ncentral government in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said his administration had used the limited funds
\nthey had to prepare rescue equipment and evacuation facilities.<\/p>\n
The available funds have been allocated for the purchase of
\nmedicine and the setting up of public kitchens and a radio
\ncommunications network, he added.<\/p>\n
He also said the city administration would cooperate with the
\nArmed Forces (ABRI) if an emergency situation arose.<\/p>\n
Separately on Monday, residents of Jl. Kembang in Kwitang,
\nCentral Jakarta, were spotted dredging muddy garbage from storm
\ndrains in anticipation of flooding.<\/p>\n
Similar activities could be seen in Sunter, North Jakarta,
\nPulo Gadung in East Jakarta and Kembangan in West Jakarta.
\n(ind\/emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/capital-needs-funds-for-flood-prevention-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}