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)