CCTV system to be used to monitor sluices

CCTV system to be used to monitor sluices

In an effort to maintain a watch on water levels in rivers during
the upcoming rainy season, the city administration plans to
install a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system at sluices in
the city.

"We will use all means so that information about the flow of
water from upper areas can reach residents as soon as possible,"
the head of the Jakarta Public Order Agency, Soebagyo, who is
also the secretary of the city's disaster mitigation team, said
on Tuesday.

Soebagyo did not mention the cost of procuring and installing
the system. He did say monitors would be placed at sluices along
the Ciliwung River in Depok and Manggaria, and at sluices on the
Pasanggrahan, Angke and Cipinang rivers.

The heart of the system will be based at the crisis center in
City Hall.

Citing reports from the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency,
Soebagyo said the rainy season would begin later this month and
was expected to reach its peak in December and January.

He particularly warned residents living along the banks of the
13 major rivers in the city not to dump garbage into the rivers,
which could worsen the flooding.

"Residents who live on riverbanks must prepare for possible
flooding. Their areas are the most at risk for flooding during
the rainy season," he said.

The administration has said in the past that it is unable to
prevent the annual flooding because the East Flood Canal still
has not been completed. The canal is expected to ease flooding by
connecting the five major rivers in eastern Jakarta with the West
Flood Canal.

Soebagyo said about 21,000 officers from various agencies and
organizations, including the public order agency, the public
works agency, the police and the military, were ready to be
deployed to assist flood victims. -- JP