Controlling floods still problem for the city<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration continues to have
\ndifficulty building flood control facilities because of the high
\ncost of land appropriation in flood-prone areas, an official
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Soeparmono, director general of water resource development at
\nthe Ministry of Public Works, told The Jakarta Post that the city
\nadministration would have to spend at least Rp 100 billion (US$45
\nmillion) just to appropriate the land for the project.<\/p>\n
\"That was several years ago. Now it could be twice or three
\ntimes that high,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The construction of the facilities themselves may cost less,
\napproximately Rp 100 billion,\" he added.<\/p>\n
According to Soeparmono, the ministry should prioritize flood
\nprone locations which are usually located in residential and
\nindustrial estates.<\/p>\n
He said the administration should invest about Rp 500 billion
\nto build a flood control canal in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"The dilemma is that the administration will not be able to
\nfinance a major project in any area,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We will not be able to free Jakarta from flooding any time
\nsoon,\" he added.<\/p>\n
According to Soeparmono, the administration is systematically
\nhandling the problem. One way is to reduce the 80 trouble spots
\nin the city.<\/p>\n
\"Jakarta has about 24,000 hectares of areas prone to
\nflooding,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Flood canal<\/p>\n
\"About 7,000 hectares have been improved by the flood canal in
\nWest Jakarta,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The latest data from the Ciliwung-Cisadane River Development
\nProject said that the administration has covered 6,100 hectares
\nof flood prone area.<\/p>\n
Soeparmono said that flood control facilities for the western
\nparts of the city include the Cengkareng drain, the Angke river,
\nand the Pluit and Cideng water pumps. The Cideng pump also
\nprotects the Central Jakarta area, especially around the National
\nMonument.<\/p>\n
\"Unfortunately, we have not been able to solve the flooding
\nproblems in the eastern part of the city, which consists mostly
\nof residential and industrial estates,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The administration is still working on a flood canal to stop
\n17,000 hectares from flooding in the east.<\/p>\n
The administration is also upgrading the Sunter river and
\nbuilding the Sunter Timur III flood control project, which will
\nbe completed in January next year. The project is designed to
\nprevent flooding in Rawa Badak and Koja Utara, North Jakarta,
\nwhich cover a total of 750 hectares.<\/p>\n
Another effort is to control the Sunter I dam, which according
\nto Soeparmono will help prevent the flood problems in Rawa Badak.<\/p>\n
\"Sooner or later, we should free the city from flooding,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Soeparmono stressed that the biggest problem is the
\nadministration's inability to finance the project, not technical
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
The latest data shows that the administration needs about Rp
\n35 billion to appropriate land for the river cleaning projects in
\nWest Jakarta, and about Rp 120 billion for the construction of
\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
The administration also needs Rp 900 billion to appropriate
\nland in East Jakarta and another Rp 900 billion for construction.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Rp 160 billion is needed to install water pumps in
\nthe city.<\/p>\n
Soeparmono said that to overcome flooding, the city
\nadministration in cooperation with the project management, has
\nset up a 24-hour flood watch team. (05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/controlling-floods-still-problem-for-the-city-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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