Admits it is difficult to change the spatial layout of Jakarta to overcome flooding problems, Pramono: Because it has been given

JAKARTA - Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung admitted that spatial planning issues were one of the main factors causing flooding in the capital. However, he assessed that the condition of Jakarta's spatial planning, which has been formed for a long time, makes it impossible to make changes quickly.

Pramono's statement was made in response to the views of the Jakarta Environmental Foundation (Walhi) who assessed that the flooding in Jakarta was not solely due to rainfall, but due to the loss of water-absorbing areas due to spatial issues.

Pramono said that the current spatial layout of Jakarta is a condition that has been formed from cross-period government policies. Therefore, a comprehensive change is a challenge in itself.

"Now the problem is, in Jakarta, the spatial layout has indeed changed over time, it is very difficult to change. Because it has been given," said Pramono when reviewing the dredging of Kali Sepak, Kembangan, West Jakarta, Monday, January 26.

In the midst of these limitations, Pramono reminded that spatial issues were not exacerbated by the behavior of residents, especially the habit of throwing garbage indiscriminately. According to him, the density of existing areas today requires community discipline in maintaining the environment.

"The problem for me is that this already crowded space, then the community still throws garbage carelessly," he said.

He said that waste thrown into water channels and rivers has the potential to hinder water flow, especially during heavy rains. This condition is considered to contribute to the overflow of water into residential areas.

"Because if this waste disposal is still carried out, it will interfere with Cengkareng Drain and will also interfere with the doors that we have managed so far," said Pramono.

For this reason, Pramono instructed the mayors to continue to educate the public. He even opened the option of forming special rules to suppress the habit of throwing garbage carelessly.

On the other hand, Pramono emphasized that the Jakarta Provincial Government does not only rely on a short-term approach in dealing with floods. He said, the normalization of rivers which is now being carried out is a policy that has not been fully implemented by the previous government.

"Actually, I am not repeating old things, including for the normalization of Ciliwung, the normalization of Krukut, the normalization of Kali Cakung Lama has never been done," said Pramono.

He admitted that the normalization policy was not a popular move because it required a large budget and implied the relocation of residents. However, the Jakarta Provincial Government continues to pursue this policy as part of medium and long-term flood management.

"Actually, in my current government, I have started to normalize Ciliwung, which has never been done before, the normalization of Krukut, which has not been done, the normalization of the old Cakung river, which I have decided. It was not done before," he said.

In addition to normalization, the Jakarta Provincial Government is also still relying on short-term measures, one of which is weather modification operations. Pramono assessed that extreme weather is a natural factor that cannot be controlled, but its impact can be suppressed through anticipation.

He emphasized that handling the Jakarta flood requires time and cannot be solved instantly. According to him, a combination of short, medium, and long-term steps will continue to be carried out simultaneously.

"This takes time and for that there are short-term dredging, weather modification, there are medium ones like we just issued a penlok for the normalization of Ciliwung then Krukut, Cakung Lama, we will do everything," added Pramono.