City ready to handle flood
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)