Bekasi's drainage system

Bekasi's drainage system

From Bisnis Indonesia

In the past, floods caused by heavy rains only inundated the
BTN housing complex in Bekasi, a dormitory town 20 kilometers
east of Jakarta. Now floods also invade other housing complexes.

In housing complexes with a relatively low location, flood
waters can reach a height of more than a half meter. Apparently
Bekasi's regional administration issued building permits without
considering a drainage system.

The burgeoning of new housing complexes in Bekasi has
gradually reduced water catchments so that rainwater which used
to be absorbed by the land now stays on the surface.

An example of a non-functioning drainage system runs alongside
Jl. Jatiluhur in the direction of the Perumnas state housing
complex. The width of the drain has gradually diminished and now
the water ceases to flow before it reaches the big river that it
is supposed to flow into.

Another consequence of bad drainage is the stagnant water
where mosquitoes can breed, sometimes dengue fever carrying
mosquitoes.

If there is no improvement in Bekasi's drainage system, the
number of houses menaced by floods will increase. Who is actually
responsible for this situation? The Regional Administration of
Bekasi or the Ministry of Public Works?

SURYANTO WIBOWO

Bekasi