City fails to address root problem of flooding<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Environmentalists say government plans to handle flooding in the
\ncity are incomprehensive as they fail to address environmental
\ndamage as the root of the annual problem.<\/p>\n
They said the eviction of squatters from riverbanks around the
\ncity would not stop floods from occurring. Riverbank squatting
\nplays an insignificant role in the cause of floods compared to
\nrampant misuse of designated green areas.<\/p>\n
Tubagus Haryo Karbiyanto, an environmentalist who deals with
\nurban and environmental affairs for the Jakarta Legal Aid
\nInstitute (LBH Jakarta), said violations of the 2010 city master
\nplan continue as the government had no clear agenda on protecting
\nthe environment.<\/p>\n
He cited as an example the city master plan, which was passed
\ninto a bylaw in 1999. The master plan rules that green areas
\nshould account for 13.94 percent of the city by 2010, but there
\nhas been no action to implement the increase in green areas.<\/p>\n
\"If the city wants to address the problem of floods, the city
\nadministration should stop environmental damage caused by the
\nrampant conversion of green space into business areas,\" Tubagus
\ntold The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Tubagus was referring to the construction of business centers
\nin areas that have experienced flooding, such as Kelapa Gading in
\nNorth Jakarta. \"If the city cannot stop such a tendency, don't
\nexpect flooding and other environmental problems to be solved,\"
\nTubagus added.<\/p>\n
According to Tubagus, the city master plan, or Bylaw No.
\n6\/1999, provides guidance on how the city can increase its green
\nareas, which currently only amount to around 9 percent of
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Another important matter requiring attention is the
\nnormalization of upstream areas in Puncak, Bogor, West Java.
\nTherefore, the city should start talking seriously about the
\nissue with relevant agencies, including Bogor and West Java
\nadministrations.<\/p>\n
Previously, former chairman of the Jakarta branch of the
\nIndonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) Ahmad \"Puput\"
\nSafruddin said that the 13.95 percent requirement of a city's
\nterritory for green areas is far from the ideal figure of 30
\npercent.<\/p>\n
Puput stressed that adequate green areas in the city would
\nhelp the city lessen flooding as the areas would be able to
\nabsorb and retain rainwater and prevent it from flowing directly
\ninto rivers.<\/p>\n
According to Puput, the conversion of swampy areas and
\nmangrove forests, mainly in northern parts of the city,
\ncontributed significantly to flooding in the city as they could
\nno longer absorb rainwater and hold back sea high tides.<\/p>\n
He was referring to the conversion of swampy areas into
\nresidential areas and business centers like Pantai Indah Kapuk in
\nWest Jakarta and Kalapa Gading in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Puput also criticized the revision of the 1985-2005 city
\nmaster plan into the 2010 master plan, saying that it was a ploy
\nby the city administration to justify violations of the revised
\ncity master plan.<\/p>\n
Buildings built on green areas based on the 1985-2005 city
\nmaster plan include Hotel Mulia in Senayan, Central Jakarta,
\nTaman Anggrek Mall and Condominium in Grogol, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, head of the City Public Works Agency IGKG Suena
\nstressed that it was unlikely that the city administration would
\ndeal with past violations of the master plan.<\/p>\n
\"It's unlikely that all those buildings will be demolished as
\nthere is no legal justification. We should not be blamed for any
\nviolations of land use committed long ago,\" he argued.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/city-fails-to-address-root-problem-of-flooding-1447893297",
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