Low-cost apartments planned for flood-prone areas
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)