'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