Protect Condet's water reservoirs: City councilor

Protect Condet's water reservoirs: City councilor

JAKARTA (JP): A city councilor urged yesterday the city
administration to protect water reservoirs in Condet, East
Jakarta, to help prevent another water crisis in the area.

A severe water shortage has affected Jakarta's green
conservation area in Condet since August due to the prolonged dry
season.

The shortage has been blamed on the deterioration of the
Ciliwung River banks, which in turn damaged nearby water
catchment areas and affected the water level, Lukman Mokoginta, a
member of Commission D for development affairs, said.

"The prolonged dry season does make the soil prone to
deterioration," he said.

"That is why it's time for the city administration to take
action to ensure the protection of green areas and prevent water
catchment areas from deteriorating further."

Preventative action could start with the clarification of land
use in the area, Lukman said.

"For instance, if certain areas have been dedicated as green
areas, don't let people build houses there."

The city administration also has to clear the green area left
in Condet to preserve the area as a water catchment site, he
said.

"The administration must set aside funds in next year's city
budget to buy a green plot before the Betawi (native Jakartan)
people, who own the land, sell it to somebody else."

Betawi people are known to sell their land whenever they need
money, Lukman said.

There are reportedly eight hectares of green area left in
Condet, most located in the Balekambang subdistrict, near the
banks of the Ciliwung River.

"The municipality must understand the local culture. We can't
just entrust the land (in Condet) to new residents, who have no
idea how to preserve it," he said. "So the city should make an
effort to save Condet."

Condet, which has a total area of 18.83 hectares, consists of
three subdistricts -- Batuampar, Balekambang and Kampung Tengah -
and is known as the center for Betawi culture and fruit
conservation as per Gubernatorial Decree No.D.IV-115/e/3/1974.

Located near Kali Ciliwung, one of the longest river in
Jakarta, the area produces the fruits salak and duku.

However, during the past five years, some of the green area
has been converted into housing complexes and the residents no
longer take part in the regreening program.

Lukman also reiterated the municipality's efforts, especially
the work of subdistrict officials, in disseminating the rules for
living in Condet.

The rules oblige local residents to plant trees near their
houses, support the regreening program and install waste water
injection wells in their yard to help prevent another water
crisis.

Lukman said most of Condet had been turned into housing
complexes and the city administration needed to be realistic.

"The city should enforce the rules on newcomers in Condet and
protect the remaining green areas as soon as possible."

He also said that the city should be careful when it selected
the species of trees to be planted in Condet, as well as in any
other water catchment area.

"Plant the kind of trees which have strong roots to hold the
soil and water together, such as Rasamala, Trembesi, Tanjung and
Asam Menteng trees," he said.

If the city plants the right tree species, then it can be sure
Condet will have a suitable water catchment area like the one in
Menteng, Lukman said.

"Even though the Menteng area in Central Jakarta is a housing
complex and has been affected by the prolonged dry season, it
still has sufficient ground water supplies because of the
successful regreening program there." (07)