Authorities collect Rp 650 million for flood victims
Authorities collect Rp 650 million for flood victims
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has collected Rp 650
million (US$302,325) in public donations for the victims of last
week's flood, according to a deputy governor.
However R.S. Museno, deputy governor for social welfare, said
yesterday the amount is inadequate to cover the total loss of Rp
39.54 billion.
He explained that the money will be distributed to the needy
families based on the mayoralty offices' requests.
"The money is now deposited at the city-owned Bank DKI on Jl.
Merdeka Selatan. Those who want to donate can transfer money
directly to bank account No. 01.0400-91272," Museno said.
The city administration has so far distributed Rp 350 million
from the 1995/1996 budget, he said.
Museno said that city administration can not build
accommodation for the families whose houses were washed away by
the floods. "Flooding is a natural disaster and the city
administration is not responsible for natural disasters. Anyway
the administration lacks sufficient funds for that," he said.
The floods, which were said to be the worst in 20 years,
killed 10 people, devastated five mayoralties and inflicted a
total of Rp 39.54 billion in material losses. They washed away
200 houses and destroyed at least 200 other buildings.
Museno also said yesterday that the city administration, in
cooperation with the Ministry of Public Works, is repairing and
strengthening a total of 2,500 meters of riverbank along the
Ciliwung river in five mayoralties.
The total cost of the project is Rp 1.4 billion, Rp 600
billion of which is from the city administration and the
remaining Rp 800 million is from the Ministry of Public Works, he
said.
Surjadi
On a related matter, Governor Surjadi Soedirdja has warned his
subordinates not to embezzle donations meant for flood victims.
He said he will take tough action against anyone caught taking
the money.
The governor said early last week that all mayors should
supervise the money and make sure that all donations, either
material or financial, are delivered to the victims.
"I warn you not to act corruptly with the donations. I will
not condone such behavior. Don't take advantage of other people's
misery," Surjadi said.
He said he had heard that donations for natural disaster
victims in other areas were stolen. "I don't want that to happen
in Jakarta."
He suggested that donors send their money to the bank, instead
of handing it over to mayoralty officials.
The Jakarta floods have drawn serious attention from the
government. President Soeharto and several ministers visited the
flood-hit areas on Jan. 7.
The Ministry of Public Works has been working on programs to
anticipate future floods. Meetings with the National Development
Planning Board are already underway.
Residents have said improper management of the environment was
the main cause of the floods, while Surjadi said two factors
might have caused this year's flood: constant torrential rains
and the poor condition of city's river banks.
He also blames riverbanks squatters for damaging the
environment which led to, among other things, the floods. He is
therefore intending to evict all riverbank squatters. (yns)