Not Rp7 Billion, DKI Allocates Rp31 Billion for Weather Modification in 2026

JAKARTA - In order to anticipate heavy rainfall that could cause flooding in DKI Jakarta throughout 2026, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has allocated a budget of Rp. 31 billion for Weather Modification Operations (OMC).

"We have calculated that throughout the year it is Rp31 billion," said Head of the Data and Information Technology Center (Kapusdatin) of the DKI Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Mohammad Yohan when contacted in Jakarta, quoted from ANTARA, Saturday. 17 January.

Initially it was only allocated Rp7 billion. "But based on the recommendations of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), in 2026 there are what kind of tendencies. So it's added," he said.

Yohan explained that the additional budget was carried out because of the planned implementation of OMC during the upcoming dry season.

Unlike OMC during the rainy season, later OMC during the dry season is carried out so that rain falls on the ground not on the sea.

"We also have the intention that later in the dry season, we will try to remove the clouds on land. The method is different (from OMC during the rainy season)," said Yohan.

However, Yohan said that the total budget would not be forced to be absorbed entirely. If the situation is considered conducive, OMC will not be carried out.

Yohan also explained the amount of budget prepared for the OMC in the early and mid-year period of Rp7 billion.

"It was prepared for around Rp7 billion for the initial stage this year. The beginning and middle of this year was Rp7 billion. But that is not necessarily absorbed at all," said Yohan.

Because, said Yohan, the amount of salt distributed in each flight is also different. Sometimes it takes 800 kilograms to 1 ton of salt or Sodium Chloride (NaCl).

"One day there are 3 flights. That's the details there are calculations from BMKG. How much NaCl should be brought," he said.