DKI Continues To Use Receding Flood Benchmark Within 6 Hours

A number of heavy equipment were deployed to dredge up garbage at the Manggarai Sluice Gate in order to reduce the potential for flooding in Jakarta, Wednesday (1/3/2023) ANTARA/Dewa Ketut Sudiarta Wiguna

JAKARTA - The Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta (Pemprov DKI) continues to use the benchmark for flooding receding within six hours as a form of performance index (KPI) to accelerate flood handling in the Capital City.

“KPI is of course our benchmark as well. If the previous government said it would be six hours to recede, we will try," said DKI Jakarta Regional Secretary (Sekda) Joko Agus Setyono while visiting the Manggarai Water Gate, Jakarta, reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, March 1.

According to him, the handling of floods in Jakarta is supported by many factors, including the participation of the people who are starting to become aware of not throwing garbage into the river indiscriminately.

In addition, support from the central government to reduce water discharge from upstream is by building the Ciawi and Sukamahi Dams in Bogor Regency, West Java.

Not only that, the ongoing efforts to normalize the Ciliwung River and dredging silt will also reduce the impact of flooding in Jakarta.

Widening drainage in Jakarta will also be carried out as a flood prevention effort.

"We always improve the irrigation system in Jakarta, the culverts in the area, every RT (Rukun Tetangga) will try to plan it in flood prevention," said the former Head of Representative for the Bali Provincial Audit Board (BPK).

On the other hand, the floods that occurred a few days ago in Jakarta were purely due to hydrometeorological impact factors, not due to floods sent from buffer zones. According to the forecasts of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the peak of the rainy season in Jakarta will be in January-February 2023.

"We don't say it's a flood, it's a hydrometeorological factor, it's actually a natural factor. We will not blame the surrounding area and it is more important how we coordinate with local governments around us," he said.

Meanwhile, when visited by the Secretary of DKI Jakarta, the Manggarai Water Gate was clean of garbage.

A number of officers deployed three pieces of heavy equipment to dredge trash at the Manggarai Watergate.

Previously, the 2017-2022 administration of DKI Governor Anies Baswedan used a flood receding target within six hours after the rain subsided or the river receded.