106 areas in city prone to flooding, official says

JAKARTA (JP): Rapid development has contributed to making 106 areas prone to flooding this year, an official says.

R. Sitindjak, an official of the public protection unit at the city public order office, said yesterday that construction of high rise buildings in some parts of the city has blocked waterways and drainage systems. "This has caused serious problems in many areas," he said.

Early this year, the city administration records indicated that there were 80 areas prone to flooding.

Sitindjak said construction has decreased the number of green areas. "Also, many developers have failed to provide adequate drainage systems, waterways or ponds to hold the rainwater," he said.

Sitindjak said the new danger spots are Kampung Bali, Jl. Wahid Hasyim, Jl. Cilacap, Jl. M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Cideng in Central Jakarta, and Duri Pulo in West Jakarta.

He said his office is trying to anticipate floods by stepping up the floodwatch operation and preparing rubber dinghies to evacuate victims.

The administration has also dredged 12 rivers in the city. A total of Rp 15 billion (US$6.52 million) was spent on the project.

The "old" areas vulnerable to flooding in Central Jakarta are Jati Pinggir, Petamburan, Pinggir Kali Krukut, Jl. Bendungan Hilir, Jl. Sabang, Serdang Timur, Jl. Industri, Jl. Angkasa Bender, Jl. P. Jayakarta, Mangga Dua, Dwi Warna, Rajawali Selatan, Johar Baru and Percetakan Negara.

In North Jakarta the main problem areas are the Kodamar Navy complex, Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta mayoralty housing complex, Kalibaru, the Dewarutji Navy housing complex, Kampung Malaka, Kampung Rawa Badak, Kampung Tugu Utara, Jl. Donggala, Lagoa, Kebon Bawang, Sungai Bambu, Kampung Warakas, Kampung Papanggo, Jl. Martadinata, Sunter Jaya, Yos Sudarso, Podomoro Sunter, Pademangan Barat, Pademangan Timur, Jembatan Dua, Jembatan Tiga, Bimoli, Pluit Selatan, Teluk Gong, Kapuk Muara and Prof. Sudiatmo toll road.

In West Jakarta the areas are Kompleks Hankam, Palmerah, Kantor Pos, Daan Mogot, Jelambar Ilir, the mayoralty housing complex, Pondok Bandung, Bojong Indah, Duri Kosambi, Poglar, Cengkareng KM 13, Batusari, Kelapa Dua, Meruya Ilir, Basmol, Taman Kota, Budi Mulia, Jl. Jembatan Batu, Kali Beton, Mangga Besar I and Mangga Besar IV.

In South Jakarta they are Kompleks Pertamina, Kompleks Polri, Tegal Parang, Kampung Petogogan, Gandaria Utara, Hang Lekir, Tebet, Kebayoran Baru, Bukit Duri Tanjakan, Manggarai Selatan, Pondok Karya, Pulo Raya, Cirindo, Seskopol, IKPN, Ulujami, Sangrila Indah, Pondok Pinang, Dukuh, Ciledug Raya, Cipulir, Kemandoran, the TVRI housing complex, Permata Hijau and Kebon Baru.

In East Jakarta , Cipinang Rambutan, Kampung Makasar, Kebon Pala, Sunter Halim, Cawang Dewi Sartika, Bidaracina, Kampung Melayu, Kebon Nanas, Cipinang Besar Utara, Cipinang Muara, Kampung Bodong, Jatinegara Kaum, Kompleks PALAD and Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan.

The manager of the Ciliwung-Cisadane river basin development project, Siswoko, had earlier warned that big floods, like those which hit the capital in January and February, could occur again any time during the rainy season.

The January and February floods killed 30 people and caused Rp 90 billion in damage. (yns)