Mayor scolds careless developers

Mayor scolds careless developers

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Mayor Abdul Kahfi has blamed
floods in the area on the careless waste disposal by four
developers.

The developers disposed of cement waste into canals that run
through some Central Jakarta areas, narrowing the canals to only
30 centimeters in width from their original two meters, the mayor
said over the weekend.

As a result, some Central Jakarta areas are often flooded
during the wet season, Abdul told a public meeting.

"This is a bad example for civilians, whom we count on to
support our campaign for a clean city," he said.

He said many developers tend to neglect the environment in
achieving their business gains, lacking responsibility for the
general public's interest.

According to Abdul, one of the development projects
responsible for the waste is Bank Indonesia's construction on Jl.
Budi Kemuliaan.

Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, who also attended the
meeting, urged companies to be environmentally aware and help
control the chronic floods in Central Jakarta, especially during
the wet season.

The governor said that piles of trash around shopping areas
and traditional markets could also cause flooding if not properly
managed, especially if they contained plastic waste, which is not
biodegradable.

"It takes 400 years for plastics to disintegrate," Surjadi
said.

Also discussed was a sluice gate in Central Jakarta that had
been deactivated due to a power breakdown. The mayor called for
the reactivation of the gate because it was important in
controlling the district's water distribution.

"Because the sluiceway does not function, many main streets in
Central Jakarta are prone to flooding, which, in turn, affects
traffic flow," Abdul said.

The main streets affected include Jl. Prapatan, Jl. Singosari,
Jl. Gajah Mada, Jl. Majapahit, Jl. Hasyim Ashari and Jl. Juanda
in Harmony; Jl. Gunung Sahari and the streets around the National
Monument; and the roundabout in front of Hotel Indonesia.

About half of the greater Jakarta area is vulnerable to
flooding. (04)