City ready to handle flood

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said yesterday that as the wet season approaches the city administration is getting ready to deal with floods.

"I have told related offices to prepare equipment and to intensify flood control offices. I also urge Jakartans to prepare themselves to deal with floods," Surjadi told reporters at the City Hall.

"It is important to increase communication between the community and the city administration so that we can take immediate action in dealing with floods," the governor said.

The governor said that in an effort to prevent flooding the city has signed a cooperation agreement with the West Java administration. However, success of it has yet to be realized.

"Yes, there is a provision in the cooperation agreement which states that the Puncak tourist resort near Bogor will be a water catchment area to avoid floods in the capital city. But it is not working yet," Surjadi explained.

Project

Commenting on the delay of the construction of a canal system in East Jakarta, the governor said that the delay is due to a lack of funds, but it will eventually be continued.

"The project will be continued, but unfortunately the city administration does not have enough funds to finance it in the immediate future," he said.

When completed, the system will be seven kilometers long, covering two districts, Jatinegara and Duren Sawit and many sub districts, such as Cipinang Besar Selatan, Cipinang Besar Utara, Cipinang Muara and Pondok Bambu.

There will be two canals, one along each side of the road and each will be 100 meters wide. The project is important in preventing floods in the area.

Residents are worried because up so far the city administration has only appropriated 6,000 square-meters of land. Residents are unable to either sell or build houses on the land as the East Jakarta Mayoralty has refused to issue building permits for them.

"The area is for the canal so there will be no permits issued," the governor said.(yns)