'Development plans need vetting'

'Development plans need vetting'

The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency has warned Jakartans of the
possibility of further flooding, as the wet season does not reach
its peak until mid-February. Two people died in flooding last
week while at least 20,000 residents fled to drier land. The
Jakarta Post ask residents their opinion on what should be done
to avoid recurring floods in the capital.

Karma, 41, works for a company in East Pejaten, South Jakarta,
installing groundwater pumps. He lives with his wife and six
children in Pasar Minggu, also in South Jakarta:

I thought the last thing that could happen to me was flooding.
But I experienced it this year. Our neighborhood had never been
flooded before. I was amazed that floodwater could reach our
neighborhood.

Then I realize that the housing complexes surrounding our
neighborhood had caused the flood, as the developer raised the
ground of the complexes.

I don't think the government should allow developers do such a
thing. But it happened anyway. It seems there is nothing we can
do about it.

I wish the city administration would examine the plans of
developers wanting to build housing complexes. They shouldn't
issue a permit if the construction could cause flooding in
surrounding neighborhoods.

Iwan, 29, sells secondhand cell phones. He lives in flood-
prone Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta:

I'm used to floods. I know the whole routine by heart now. If
the water is only a meter or two deep, I remain in my house to
keep guard, you never know who might take advantage of the
situation.

If it's deeper, I go to a shelter.

Even though it has flooded here as long as I can remember, it
never reached catastrophic levels until 1996.

At that time we lost our house. In 2002, I had to take refuge
for over a month. This year's level was like 2002, but thank God
it lasted only a week.

My wife and our three-month-old daughter are still in Bogor
with my in-laws. She is afraid that it might flood again. We
would prefer a better place, but what alternative do we have with
our limited income?

--The Jakarta Post