Rp13b for flood prevention in Jakarta

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.