Flood menace

The Jakarta administration's efforts to control flooding deserve our appreciation. The "river normalization" program, costing Rp 53 billion, and the Rp 77 billion set aside for the maintenance of sluices, may be cited as some of the major projects being undertaken to improve the flood control system. And these projects do not include the East Flood Canal, scheduled to be completed in seven years time.

Despite these projects, though, no one would be foolhardy enough to say that they will be sufficient to prevent flooding in the capital city as Jakarta, which covers an area of about 64,000 hectares, is located on a low-lying plain dissected by 13 rivers. Therefore, anxiety about possible flooding will continue in the community, especially among those people living in areas that are vulnerable to flooding, even if officials confidently claim that Jakarta is prepared to face the rainy season.

One official, for example, issued a press statement to the effect that this readiness is proved by the 40,874 personnel whom he claims will be ready for action should the flood waters rise once again, as they most assuredly will. The official also said that 244 dump trucks, 256 rubber dinghies, 162 tents and 242 communal kitchens would be available to assist those affected by the flooding. "Four helicopters, 94 water tank trucks, 210 tons of rice and 4,000 boxes of instant noodles will also be available," the official in question said proudly.

But having experienced some of the worst floods ever in the city recently, many Jakartans view such statements as little more than empty words or propaganda. Common sense, after all, gives rise to the question: How can the city administration guarantee that all of these 40,874 personnel will actually be on call to help people in need in case of flooding? And do all of these 40,874 personnel live in flood-free areas so that they will be able to act quickly whenever an emergency arises?

When a flood of biblical proportions crippled the city for days early last year, it was private organizations and individuals who did the most to help their fellow residents whose homes were inundated. The role played by the military was significant, as it should be, but that played by the city administration was far from satisfactory.

Will all four helicopters be ready to help those whose houses are inundated? What must people do to get effective assistance? It would seem that the procedures for getting a helicopter in the air to help flood victims are somewhat complicated. The Army, the Police, the Air Force and the Navy each have their own bureaucratic systems and standard procedures for providing helicopters in such situations.

And about the dump trucks: Will the 244 vehicles be ready to transport people and their belongings to safety during the floods, when even the day-to-day business of transporting the city's garbage appears to be beyond the wit of the administration?

It is not our intention of sewing skepticism among the public, but rather to try to encourage people to think in more realistic ways. Flooding cannot be dealt with by issuing political statements while failing to provide the infrastructural support necessary to ensure that the flood control system really works.

While not belittling the administration's efforts, we nevertheless are sorry to say that what has been done is not enough. Every time it rains, we can see how many areas of the city are inundated. This clearly indicates that the infrastructural problems still persist -- something compounded by the fact that watercourses and drains are normally clogged by vast reefs of garbage.

It is obvious that the city administration has yet to succeed in applying a thorough flood control program. As is the case with land transportation, the administration has failed to develop a comprehensive and integrated plan to control flooding. Such a plan should begin with the smallest unit of society: the family.

Educating families in their neighborhoods on the importance of treating garbage properly is vital. In this way people can gain an awareness of the importance of not littering or dumping garbage into watercourses. Given this, there is no other option for minimizing flooding in Jakarta than to improve cooperation between City Hall and city residents.

The residents must abandon their habit of dumping garbage into drains, canals and waterways, and the administration must improve its sensitivity and make flood control projects, including the infrastructural support systems, such as an adequate garbage disposal system for the city, its top priority. By so doing the administration will be able to prioritize how to spend the limited funds at its disposal in a more beneficial manner. Real action must be planned and taken as the floods cannot be dealt with by statements and promises alone.

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