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)