Tangerang's flood-prone areas grow

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.