Tangerang's flood-prone areas grow

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Rapid construction of residential complexes in Tangerang municipality in the last two years has increased the number of flood prone areas from 22 to 85 sites.

Environmental consultant Mukatam said in a workshop on local environmental strategy held by the Tangerang Environmental Agency on Saturday that the municipal administration had not anticipated the floods.

He pointed the blame at the construction permits freely given to housing developers by the administration officials, ignoring the resultant environmental damage.

Mukatam said that Tangerang area was prone to flooding because it was traversed by the Cisadane, Cirarab, Sabi and Angke rivers. The rivers usually overflow during heavy downpour inundating many areas in both Tangerang municipality and regency.

"The water does not flow after the rain in those (flood-prone) areas," he said.

He lambasted the administration's effort to drive the water toward the sea to overcome the floods.

Mukatam said that the capacity of the rivers to accommodate rain water had continued to decline because they had narrowed and become more shallow. He also criticized the inadequate and poor flood control and drainage system.

He called on the administration to revive the function of water ponds, maintain catchment areas, plant more trees to hold water and create catchment ponds in front of every house and office in the municipality.

Floods inundate at least 5,000 houses annually in Periuk, Jatiuwung, Karawaci, Pinang and Cipondoh districts in the municipality.