Capital needs funds for flood prevention
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)