Rp13b for flood prevention in Jakarta
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Jakarta administration decided on Tuesday to allocate Rp 13 billion (US$1.4 million) to finance several projects in anticipation of the floods that are expected to hit the city early next year.
"The money was the remainder of the Rp 223 billion allocated in the 2002 city budget for flood prevention this year," City Public Works Agency Chief IGKG Suena told reporters after a meeting at City Hall on the administration's flood preparations.
The meeting, led by Governor Sutiyoso, was also attended by Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo, other top city officials and chief of the Meteorology and Geophysical Agency (BMG) Gunawan Ibrahim.
Suena stated the Rp 13 billion would be used to finance river flood alleviation programs, including dredging the Krukut river and West Flood Canal, which crosses Jl. Sudirman in Central Jakarta.
He said the funds would also be used for dredging some parts of the Ciliwung river along Jl. Diponegoro as far as Kwitang, Central Jakarta, and the Cideng river, also in Central Jakarta.
The city administration allocated Rp 223 billion this year to finance several flood prevention projects after massive floods hit almost all parts of the city in February this year.
Some Rp 50 billion of the Rp 223 billion was used to appropriate 20 hectares of land for the planned construction of the 23-kilometer East Flood Canal, which, along with the existing West Flood Canal, is believed to be able to prevent flooding in the city.
However, the administration repeatedly said that the central government was expected to help finance construction of the East Flood Canal, which will cost Rp 7 trillion.
Suena said some of the Rp 223 billion was also used to finance the construction of a water dam on the Tunjungan river near the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport toll road, West Jakarta, hit by the flooding in February. The flooding caused disruption to flights as many passengers arrived late at the airport.
Meanwhile, Gunawan Ibrahim predicted that rain would start to fall in the middle of next month, with heavy rain in the middle of January and February next year, which might cause flooding.
"But it will be less than this year's heavy rain and floods," Gunawan said after the meeting.
He said this year's extensive flooding was due to heavy rains combined with high tides, something that occurred every five years.
Although the threat of flooding was reduced, Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo said that the administration would still make preparations, especially in 78 flood-prone areas in the city.
"All stakeholders in the city will participate in the flood preparations, including non-governmental organizations," Fauzi said.
He explained earlier that due to a shortage of funds the city administration would only focus on dealing with the aftermath of flooding instead of flood prevention.
He said the administration hoped the central government would also help in solving the flood problem, including building the East Flood Canal.