E. Jakarta forms seven task forces to monitor floods

JAKARTA (JP): The East Jakarta mayoralty has set up seven task force teams involving 140 people and installed new early warning systems at seven subdistricts which are vulnerable to flooding.

"Each task force consists of 20 people who are in charge of monitoring flood levels in the subdistricts of Balekambang, Cawang, Bidara Cina, Kampung Melayu, Cipinang Besar, Cipinang Muara and Pulo Gadung," Mayor Sudarsono said yesterday.

He said the task force teams plan to use loudspeakers and sirens installed near the Ciliwung, Cipinang and Kali Sunter riverbanks to inform nearby residents of imminent flooding. "This will give them ample time to take precautionary measures."

East Jakarta is the biggest mayoralty in the city where the three rivers -- Ciliwung, Cipinang and Sunter -- pass through. Their water levels frequently rise, causing the rivers to overflow into housing areas along the riverbanks.

Besides the above seven subdistricts, East Jakarta also has eight other lower areas which are prone to inundation, such as subdistricts of Rambutan, Kampung Makassar, Kebon Pala, Halim, Kebon Nanas, Rawamangun, Pulomas and Perintis Kemerdekaan.

Sudarsono said he has also provided dozens of rubber dinghies to evacuate people who may be trapped by flooding.

"As the rainy season is approaching, we will soon intensify our preparations to anticipate possible flooding and will conduct the Apel Siaga Banjir ceremony at Urip Sumohardjo field in Jatinegara next Monday," said Sudarsono.

Meanwhile, the chief of the mayoralty public works office, Amin Tjakraamidjaja, told The Jakarta Post last week he has installed dozens of plastic sacks of sand to prevent floodwater from inundating residential areas.

Amin said his subordinates had cleaned drainage ditches of rubbish a few months ago to ease water flow into the existing rivers.

He said the practice of dumping garbage into the river and drainage ditches, which triggers inundation, has become part of the culture of many people. "This practice should be banished once and for all."

Amin said a two-hectare dam built by the Ciliwung-Cisadane river basin project in Cipinang Besar Selatan could also serve to ease the intensity of flooding.

"Currently, the dam can hold 45,000 cubic meters of water that may flow from the Cipinang and Sunter rivers during the coming floods," he said. (kod)