Capital needs funds for flood prevention
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso has said that a shortage of funds is preventing the city administration from taking measures to guard against the possibility of major flooding which meteorologists have said could hit the city in the near future.
He said the administration would only be able to focus on helping flood victims rather than taking precautionary measures to prevent the flooding which could affect up to one-fifth of Jakarta's 10 million population.
Sutiyoso said that river dredging and waterway diversion was beyond the financial means of the city administration, which has been badly hit by the economic crisis.
"Funds to dredge rivers and divert waterways are simply not available under the current circumstances. They would require tens of billions of rupiah," he said.
He said that Jakartans living in areas prone to flooding should prepare themselves mentally for inundation.
"To tell you the truth, the thought of La Nia has horrified me," he added.
The Meteorology and Geophysics Bureau (BMG) warned Jakartans of the possibility of flooding due to the La Nia weather phenomenon after rainfall exceeded normal levels in July.
The bureau estimated that the number of people affected by the floods could be more than double the number in 1996, when Jakarta was hit by the worst flooding in its history.
Data from the city public works agency reveals that 40 percent of the capital is build on low lying areas and that river channels in Jakarta are extremely narrow.
The administration has already taken several steps to prepare for a deluge of flood victims, including the staging of a flood prevention parade in the National Monument park in Central Jakarta last month. Over 4,000 employees from the relevant agencies and institutions in the city took part in the parade.
On Saturday, flood rescue teams staged a demonstration of their skills for officials from the city administration and the central government in East Jakarta.
Sutiyoso said his administration had used the limited funds they had to prepare rescue equipment and evacuation facilities.
The available funds have been allocated for the purchase of medicine and the setting up of public kitchens and a radio communications network, he added.
He also said the city administration would cooperate with the Armed Forces (ABRI) if an emergency situation arose.
Separately on Monday, residents of Jl. Kembang in Kwitang, Central Jakarta, were spotted dredging muddy garbage from storm drains in anticipation of flooding.
Similar activities could be seen in Sunter, North Jakarta, Pulo Gadung in East Jakarta and Kembangan in West Jakarta. (ind/emf)