`It seems we'll have to rely on ourselves'<\/p>\n
The massive flooding in the capital last year caused billions of
\nrupiah in damage and displaced over 380,000 people. Worse still,
\nthe city administration has thus far failed to seriously address
\nthe matter. The Jakarta Post talked to residents about how to
\ncope with Jakarta's annual flood problem.<\/p>\n
Sonny, 33, is an employee of a multinational company in
\nTangerang. She resides in the Mutiara Pluit housing complex in
\nNorth Jakarta with her husband and daughter:<\/p>\n
I think the flood problem here (in Mutiara Pluit) will never
\nbe solved because the developer has failed to seriously tackle
\nit.<\/p>\n
The developer had promised to build a dam to prevent the
\nfloodwaters from the nearby river reaching us. But it's been
\nnothing more than a promise so far.<\/p>\n
I think both the developer and the city administration are
\ntalking a lot of nonsense about resolving the flood problem. They
\nshould have learned from the massive flooding in the city last
\nyear. It seems that every time the water recedes, the problem is
\nconsidered over. They are unlikely to do anything to help us.<\/p>\n
The city administration is so incompetent that it takes action
\nonly when something happens. It's so stupid, if I may say so.<\/p>\n
I think the developer and the administration should work hand
\nin hand as neither side has the individual will to settle the
\nproblem seriously.<\/p>\n
A few days ago, the developer installed a pump to drain the
\ninundated areas and channel the water back to the river. But,
\nthis won't work as there's no dam to prevent the river water from
\nflowing back into the complex.<\/p>\n
It's likely that the developer has done very little to
\nminimize the risk of flooding.<\/p>\n
I don't expect anything more from the developer or the
\nadministration. I've only myself to rely on. I have to keep an
\neye on the weather. I have moved all our belongings to the attic.
\nI would like to add a second story to the house, if I had enough
\nmoney, to escape the floods.<\/p>\n
Sulam, 54, is a housewife residing in Pondok Karya
\nsubdistrict, South Jakarta, with her husband and five children:<\/p>\n
I reckon that a lot of work has been done to resolve the flood
\nproblem in Pondok Karya. But, it doesn't seem to mean much as the
\nfloods continue to inundate the housing complex here.<\/p>\n
I'm a bit lucky in that my house hasn't been flooded so far
\nthis year. At least, it's an improvement on last year. But, I'm
\nworried as I've nowhere to go if the floods do come.<\/p>\n
All the area around here is inundated after heavy rain. In a
\nway, I realize that this is the risk of living in such a flood-
\nprone area.<\/p>\n
I don't blame the city administration for its failure to
\ntackle the flooding here. The administration has tried to rebuild
\nthe bridge higher up, but again it's been useless.<\/p>\n
I have to accept all the consequences of living in a low-lying
\narea. So, what else can I say?<\/p>\n
We have officials from the city administration and relatives
\nof House of Representatives' members living in the complex. But
\nthe floods hit nearly all the houses, no matter who the owners
\nare.<\/p>\n
Oci, 31, is a housewife who resides in Manggarai, South
\nJakarta with her husband and a daughter:<\/p>\n
I don't have any more to say because the government always
\nappears to be deaf and indifferent about addressing the flood
\nproblem here. It would be useless to stage protests at City Hall
\nas this would do nothing to prevent this area from being
\ninundated.<\/p>\n
I suggest that the city administration should evict the slum
\ndwellers living along the riverbanks as their presence is partly
\nto blame for the floods. In addition, the shanties on the
\nriverbanks also spoil the appearance of the city.<\/p>\n
We all know that garbage always blocks the Manggarai flood
\ngate, thus causing the water to build up. The piles of garbage
\nhave never been removed, except once when the massive floods
\nengulfed the whole city last year.<\/p>\n
Although my house is quite far from the Ciliwung river, what
\nhappened last year left me traumatized as my house was inundated
\nby up to one meter. I continue to worry about the likelihood of
\nfloods this year.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/it-seems-well-have-to-rely-on-ourselves-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }