$5.4m set aside to fight floods

$5.4m set aside to fight floods

JAKARTA (JP): The National Planning Board has earmarked around
Rp 12 billion (nearly US$5.4 million) of the coming 1996/1997
budget for flood control projects in Greater Jakarta.

Minister of National Development Planning/Chairman of the
National Planning Board Ginandjar Kartasasmita said yesterday
that the money would be used to fund short-term programs,
including dredging, enlarging, and cleaning the 13 rivers of
rubbish, and also removing illegal squatters.

"We're working on a two-year budgetary time-frame," he said at
the halal bihalal Idul Fitri gathering at his office.

He said that a huge amount of money is required for the whole
flood control system, therefore, funds from the Jakarta
administration are also expected to be forthcoming.

The January and February floods killed more than 30 people,
forced thousands of families to flee their homes, and created
traffic gridlock. The floods also cut off hundreds of thousands
of telephone lines and caused untold material damage.

Official statements said that the January and February floods
in Jakarta had caused almost Rp 90 billion in material losses.

In a recent meeting with Ginandjar, Minister of Public Works
Radinal Moochtar and Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja,
President Soeharto suggested that Muara Angke tributary, the
Banjir canal drainage and the Ciliwung river be dredged to allow
faster drainage into Jakarta Bay.

Ginandjar said that his office had planned integrated flood
control systems long before the floods hit Jakarta this year.
"The recent floods just underline the need for a realization of
our plans," he added.

The combination of heavy downpours, tides, waterways clogged
by garbage and the environmental degradation in the upstream
areas of Bogor, Puncak and Cianjur in West Java have been blamed
for the floods.

Ginandjar said yesterday that the government will not issue
new permits for the building of hotels, restaurants and villas in
the areas of Bogor, Puncak and Cianjur. Buildings will be allowed
in certain villages which are designated by the West Java
administration.

"Buildings with no permits and are against the spatial
planning will be demolished," he said.

According to Ginandjar, the flood control programs will
continue with mid-term and long-term programs which will be
implemented at the beginning of the Five-year Development Plan
(Repelita) VII in 1999.

The protected zones in Bogor, Puncak and Cianjur will be
maintained properly, and people living in the areas will be
ordered to plant trees in an effort to regreen the areas.

A passage connecting the Cisadane river in West Java and
Ciliwung will be constructed to relieve the pressure of the
Ciliwung river especially during the rainy seasons.

"All of these projects will commence in 2000 as they will
swallow at least Rp 2 trillion, Rp 1.2 trillion of which for land
appropriation," Ginandjar said. (sur)