'We can't blame the squatters for the floods'

Although the Jakarta administration has continued to carry out measures to fight flooding, dredging 13 rivers, maintaining sluice gates and setting up early warning systems and emergency response teams, it could not stop the annual floods. The Jakarta Post asked residents about their opinion of the administration's flood-mitigation efforts.

Nanda, 26, works in a foreign bank in Jakarta. She lives with her family in Pondok Labu, South Jakarta:

From past experience, I don't think the city administration is serious about handling the floods in the capital because it happens every year and there is nothing much they have done about it.

I've heard that it would not be that difficult to resolve the flood problem as long as we were serious about handling it. I believe money is not a problem here because they can take it from the city budget. Everyone would agree that the city administration should allocate as much funds necessary for such a critical problem.

The council would also gain support from the public and media if they spent the money correctly and undertook the project transparently.

Djoko, 35, is a construction worker working on a hotel project on Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta. He lives in a rented house with his family in Cibubur, East Jakarta:

Beside poor city management and garbage treatment, the presence of shanties and slum housing in riverbank areas also exacerabates flooding and increases the people affected.

However, I think the media and government can't just blame the riverbank squatters, such as those in Kampung Pulo, Kampung Melayu or Cipinang Muara, for not wanting to leave their homes to safer neighborhoods.

They refuse to do so because they have no money to move out while the government has given them no alternative or compensation.

Who wants to stay in flood-prone areas in the first place? I am sure they would move out if the government approached them with an alternative.

I realize that it would be costly to provide safer place but there are many empty lots scattered across the city. Also, I am sure that they could take money from state budget to solve the housing problem once and for all.

--The Jakarta Post