Jakarta Regional Council Urges River Normalisation and Drainage Improvements to Tackle Flooding

Members of the Jakarta Regional Council (DPRD) from the PSI faction are urging the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta to expedite river normalisation and drainage system improvements to tackle the floods that frequently hit the capital. August Hamonangan assessed that flood management efforts must prioritise long-term infrastructure solutions to prevent repeated waterlogging. “Clearly, river normalisation must be hastened. In my view, it won’t take years,” August stated in his remarks, quoted by Kompas.com on Thursday (7/5/2026). “We also need to add more water pumps, clean the water channels, and if necessary, widen them so that water doesn’t accumulate,” he said. According to recorded data, as of Tuesday morning (5/5/2026), 115 neighbourhood units (RT) in Jakarta were still affected by flooding. Additionally, 118 residents were reported to have evacuated due to unsubsided inundation. In South Jakarta, the most inundation occurred in 78 RTs. Some affected areas include Petogogan Ward, Bangka, Rawajati, Tanjung Barat, and East Cilandak. August also highlighted the need for the local government to focus on flood management as the city’s primary issue. He reminded that urban planning efforts and large-scale events must not overlook residents’ basic needs regarding flood handling. “The current Governor is more focused on beautifying the city, inviting international bands, and hosting F1 races,” he said. Given the ongoing situation, the DPRD hopes the Provincial Government of DKI can accelerate the implementation of planned flood control programmes, particularly in river normalisation and urban drainage improvements.