Flood menace

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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