Semper Timur Prone to Flooding, Residents Urge North Jakarta City Government to Resume Canal Dredging
Residents of RW 03, Semper Timur, Cilincing, North Jakarta, are urging the North Jakarta City Government to promptly resume canal dredging in their area, which they believe has been stalled.
RW 03 Chairman Mamat stated that dredging is essential to facilitate smooth water flow, allowing flooding to recede quickly during rain.
“Our area is indeed prone to flooding, so water flow must be unobstructed. If not dredged, the water struggles to drain,” he told Kompas.com on Friday (27/3/2026).
He explained that dredging was carried out in early March 2026, particularly at the rear section of the canal using amphibious equipment.
As a result, flooding in the area receded more quickly after rain.
“The rear section has been dredged, and the impact has been positive. But the front section has not yet been addressed,” he said.
Mamat noted that the drainage conditions in their area remain inadequate.
Several issues they face include canal silting, blocked waterways, side channels needing dredging, relatively low roads that easily flood, and rubbish from the temporary waste collection point (TPS) Budi Dharma that often gets carried into residential areas during floods.
Although they have coordinated multiple times with the Water Resources Sub-District Office (SDA), he claims no certainty has been received regarding the schedule for continuing the dredging.
Mamat conveyed that the latest information he received indicates the work will resume next week.
“They said next week, but no specific date yet,” he revealed.
“If it rains again, this will be the longest flooding. For others, it might dry up from morning to evening, but for us, it can take a day, two days, or even three days. That’s why we need to speed it up,” he added.
Kompas.com has attempted to seek a response from the Head of the Water Resources Sub-District Office of North Jakarta, Heria Suwandi. However, as of this article’s publication, no official response has been received.