City prepares flood control

City prepares flood control

The city authorities are launching a number of flood control
preparations on major rivers throughout Jakarta in anticipation
to the upcoming rainy season, which is predicted to start next
month.

"We have deployed numerous officers at flood gates and have
provided flood control facilities that will also remove garbage
from the rivers," Soeharto, head of the city public works office,
said.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the city's five
mayors, Soeharto said that his office had cleaned up several
rivers and reservoirs in an effort to facilitate the water flow.

"The silting up of many rivers has reached such an intolerable
level that we must clean them up," he said.

He said that the city authorities have also built a new
reservoir in Sunter Baru, expected to help control the floods
which usually last for several days. (hhr)