Cakung District Proposes Diverting River Flow to East Flood Canal to Tackle Flooding
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Cakung District authorities have proposed diverting the flow of the Cakung River in East Jakarta into the East Flood Canal (Banjir Kanal Timur/BKT) to address the persistent flooding that frequently afflicts the area.
“We are proposing that the Cakung River flow be diverted directly into the East Flood Canal,” said Cakung District Head Rohmad in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He stated that his office is focusing flood and inundation control efforts through the District Forum and Closing Plenary Session of the Cakung District Development Planning Forum (Musrenbang).
The inundation problems still occurring across seven sub-districts have become the primary concern in the preparation of the 2027 Regional Government Work Plan (RKPD) for DKI Jakarta Province.
Rohmad has repeatedly affirmed the district’s commitment to resolving the inundation issues that frequently occur during periods of heavy rainfall.
The forum also discussed the issue of back water from the Cakung River, which remains one of the principal causes of flooding in the Cakung District area.
“Based on the results of a joint study, it has been proposed that the Cakung River flow no longer be channelled into the Cakung Drain, but instead be diverted directly into the East Flood Canal,” Rohmad explained.
However, Rohmad noted that implementing the flow diversion requires permission from the Ciliwung Cisadane Major River Basin Authority (BWSCC) as the competent authority.
To date, the proposals and collaborative request letters that have been submitted have not received a positive response.
Consequently, Cakung District authorities plan to arrange an audience to establish more intensive coordination.
“It is hoped that permission for the diversion of the Cakung River flow to the BKT can be realised promptly for the comfort and safety of the community,” Rohmad said.
Meanwhile, as a short-term mitigation measure, the local government continues to carry out dredging and maintenance of micro-drainage channels in residential areas.
In addition, routine community work sessions are being mapped out every Sunday morning to ensure drainage channels remain functioning optimally.
Furthermore, sub-district forums from all seven sub-districts in Cakung District produced a total of 370 proposals compiled from neighbourhood council deliberations.
“All of these proposals will form part of the preparation of the 2027 DKI Jakarta Provincial RKPD, with the hope of addressing the community’s priority needs, particularly in flood management and the improvement of local infrastructure,” Rohmad said.