Jakarta Floods, Head Of DKI DPRD: Don't Buy Luxurious Soil Dredges But Don't Use

JAKARTA - The chairman of the DKI DPRD (Regional House of Representatives), Prasetyo Edi Marsudi, regrets that the DKI Provincial Government has purchased heavy equipment for dredging the land using the Regional Budget. However, currently, flooding is still common.

In recent times, floods have inundated the Kebon Pala area, Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta for three days. Yesterday, 13 RTs in East Jakarta were also flooded due to the overflow of the Sunter River.

"Don't buy luxury tools for dredging soil but the equipment can't be used", said Prasetyo at the DKI DPRD Building, Central Jakarta, Tuesday, November 2.

Prasetyo emphasized that the DKI Provincial Government must be responsible for budgeting to purchase equipment to support flood control so that it can be of maximum benefit.

According to Prasetyo, the equipment procurement carried out before the rainy season should immediately be used to dredge rivers and reservoirs. It can't be done if the DKI Provincial Government is careless to do work when the rainy season arrives.

"The problem with the flood is why you scream when it rains. Right before it rains, there are lots of tools to dredge the soil. Actually, it is possible to deepen (dredging) because now it's very shallow", said Prasetyo.

The DKI DPRD, Prasetyo emphasized, will monitor the budget submissions that are included in the 2022 APBD so that the DKI Provincial Government does not buy tools that cannot be used optimally.

Now it clearly has to be sorted. Like (procurement) in South Jakarta, I will see. Later at the meeting, which is not a priority, I will cross out (budget submissions) anyway", explained Prasetyo.

"That's my right. Please discuss it in the commission (DPRD). But it's not a decision, the decision is in the Budget Agency which I lead. That's all", he added.