Low-cost apartments planned for flood-prone areas

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso said on Monday his administration plans to build low-cost apartments in flood-prone areas across the capital.

Speaking during a visit to flood victims in Cawang, East Jakarta, Sutiyoso said he would submit the plan to the City Council for approval, along with a proposal to finance the project, which would change the 2001 city budget.

Cawang subdistrict, located along the banks of Ciliwung River, was one of the areas worst hit by recent flooding. Last week, at least 226 houses were standing in 1.5 meters of floodwater, forcing residents to seek shelter in the local subdistrict office and in tents set up on higher ground.

Sutiyoso said the densely populated area, located about six meters below street level, was not designated for housing.

"I hope the current residents will be willing to stay in the low-cost apartments, and newcomers will not be allowed to occupy this area," said Sutiyoso.

As of Monday, the water level in the area had subsided but dozens of houses were still standing in up to 50 centimeters of water. Relief supplies have yet to reach the area.

"This is the worst flooding since 1996. One of our neighbors, Afrizal, who was 22 years old, was found dead, floating in the water," said Mrs. Dono Saputra, a local resident.

She said Afrizal was helping neighbors cross the swollen river when he suffered stomach cramps and drowned.

She also complained about a lack of food. "My family only received five packages of instant noodles from a hotel located not far from here," she said, adding that there was no communal kitchen in her area.

The complaint was instantly conveyed to East Jakarta Mayor Andy Mappaganty, who was present during the governor's visit.

The mayor slammed his subordinates for delaying the delivery of relief supplies.

"I sent supplies comprising four tons of rice, 612 boxes of instant noodles and 140 liters of cooking oil," he said.

As of 8 p.m. on Monday, more people had been evacuated from their homes due to the rising level of the Ciliwung River, which is overflowing because of continued rain upstream. The evacuees sought shelter in the St. Maria school in Kampung Melayu, Jatinegara, East Jakarta.

"At least 550 people have thronged to the temporary shelter. The number has increased from 400 people on Sunday," said the spokesman for the East Jakarta office of the Indonesian Red Cross, Reza.

So far, Reza said, there were sufficient supplies for all of the evacuees, thanks to the food and other basic needs donated by local residents.

In Kampung Melayu and Bidara Cina subdistricts, which also were badly hit by flooding, the water level reached two meters on Friday.

"Local community leaders informed us the water will reach 1.5 meters (on Monday evening) because the floodgate in Depok, south of Jakarta, has been opened again," added Reza.

According to the head of the City Public Works Agency, Fadly Chatib, the water level at the Depok floodgate was expected to reach 240 centimeters on Monday evening, an increase from 190 centimeters that morning.

"We have also opened the Manggarai floodgate in Central Jakarta to channel the overflowing water to the sea. We will issue a red alert when the water reaches 300 centimeters at the Depok floodgate," said Fadly, who also was present during the governor's visit.

Airport

Meanwhile Tangerang Mayor M. Thamrin said the local administration planned to build an alternative road to Soekarno- Hatta International Airport to anticipate flooding on the Sedyatmo toll road.

He said on Monday the four-kilometer road west of the airport's entrance would be funded by money from the central government and local administration's budgets.

"But at least 300 families living in the area will have to be moved. Also, the land is owned by the public works agency for irrigation affairs," he said.

He said motorists would be able to reach the road via the Jakarta-Merak toll road, and from Serpong and Lippo Karawaci. (07/41)