Solution to prevent floods in Jakarta

Solution to prevent floods in Jakarta

From Investor Indonesia

The comments by some Jakarta administration officials on recent floods in the city were extremely amusing. They said that flooding was all part and parcel of the seasonal cycle. What irritates me is why they never take any preventative measures to anticipate this problem, which blights the city, year after year.

The governor's visits to disaster sites are, in effect, meaningless gestures. Is the public continuously expected to be submissive and accept their fate with resignation?

In my opinion, Jakarta's floods are not entirely uncontrollable and the following are a few suggestions to solve the annual problem, which I hope will be implemented by the city administration.

1. As building permits include the prerequisite of wells or areas to absorb water, related officials should monitor developers so that they adhere to the regulations.

2. Stern measures should be taken against those polluting Jakarta's waterways.

3. Instead of erecting new monuments, the relevant funds should be allocated for the development of dams in the southern, southeastern and southwestern parts of the city. By channeling water courses to dams, Jakarta would become free from flooding. The dams would also be useful for breeding fish and could become local tourist resorts. In addition, as the project would require a lot of manpower, it would reduce the city's rate of unemployment.

BOMA BASWARA

Jakarta