Flood control projects 'must get full attention'

JAKARTA (JP): Local legislators called on the city administration yesterday to shift its full attention to labor- intensive projects on flood prevention to head off dour forecasts of massive flooding during the next rainy season.

City Council speaker Edy Waluyo recommended that other projects be put on hold because anticipating the floods should take precedence.

Flood prevention projects could include river dredging and waterway diversion, he said, adding that anticipative measures were more worthwhile than attempting to play catch-up when flooding had begun.

"All of us realize that this year's flooding is projected to be bigger than before. That's why our preparation should also be different from before," he said.

The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) forecast early this month that massive flooding could hit the city during the upcoming rainy season due to the La Nia weather phenomenon.

The flood is predicted to affect about two million people, more than double the number of victims in 1996 when Jakarta was hit by the most widespread flooding in its history. The city's population is about 10 million.

The administration conducted a flood prevention parade at the National Monument compound in Central Jakarta last week, involving the participation of about 4,000 personnel from city agencies and affiliated institutions.

On July 2, Governor Sutiyoso kicked off the second labor- intensive program, worth Rp 87.9 billion, with the aim of providing job opportunities to more than 10,000 unemployed participants.

Projects include road upgrading and repair, cultivation of neglected land and construction of irrigation networks.

Edy said the administration's focus on handling flood victims was important, but he added the qualifier that it would be better if preparations concentrated on prevention.

"That's why the administration should speed up the process of diverting waterways among the 13 rivers crossing the city as it is one of the main flood causes."

Head of the United Development Party faction Achmad Suaidy said the administration should have settled the matter a couple of years ago as flooding was an annual phenomenon in the city.

Suaidy referred to data from the city public works agency revealing that 40 percent of the capital's area consisted of lowland and 76 percent of the 13 rivers were narrow.

He also said parts of the rivers had been diverted from their natural course, thereby causing the flooding.

"I don't understand why the administration does not concentrate on righting the diverted rivers, for example, as it is cheaper."

Nasrul Muluk, assistant for development administration affairs of East Jakarta mayoralty, acknowledged that many rivers in East Jakarta had been diverted. (ind)