City makes plan to anticipate floods

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration is preparing for the coming rainy season and its usual floods by establishing task- force teams in each mayoralty to watch over the 80 spots vulnerable to flooding.

City administration spokesman Muhayat told The Jakarta Post on Saturday that the teams set up by the Public Works Office had a total of 60 people, who would be helped by other watchers in 42 districts.

This year, records indicate that North Jakarta has 23 spots vulnerable to flooding, South Jakarta has 19, West Jakarta 17, East Jakarta 12 and Central Jakarta nine.

"These spots have been known as flood-prone areas for years. With the flood-control system we've been developing, we have managed to lower the water level and reduce the flooding time at each point," Muhayat said.

He said that the teams in each mayoralty would report to the flood inspection office in Depok whenever the water level in the city rivers reach threatening heights. "In this way residents will be alerted earlier."

Experts have said frequently that eliminating floods from the capital would be impossible as 40 percent of the city is below sea level. Flood-control projects will require a huge amount of money.

According to Governor Sutiyoso, what the administration could do is prepare a rescue program, protecting as many people as possible from the danger of flood.

Muhayat reiterated that arbitrary waste dumping played a significant role in the city flooding as 15 percent of household waste had been dumped into waterways and clogged the residential sewage systems. "A total of 580 kilometers of waterways have been cleaned up."

He said that his office also had made 50,000 sacks of sand available to block the water from spilling over from the rivers during heavy rains. "As many as 35,000 sacks have been distributed to all five mayoralties.

"Ten portable suction pumps and 53 mobile water pumps are also available. The 24-hour flood watches will be established at the four main sluice gates in Manggarai, South Jakarta, Sunter, North Jakarta, Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta, and Depok."

Asked about the flooding which hit Soekarno-Hatta International Airport toll road earlier this year, Muhayat said the central government was in charge of that matter.

"The height of the toll road should be raised and the two rivers along the toll need to be widened and dredged."

"Once the project is completed, the road will be free from inundation," he said. (dja)