Floods In Several Areas, LBH Jakarta: The Government Still Blames The Weather

Ilustrasi / Irfan M-VOI

JAKARTA - Floods occurred in a number of areas, especially Jabodetabek, some time ago. However, the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) regretted the government's impression that it still blamed bad weather in the rainy season.

"Even though floods occur repeatedly every year, the government continues to blame natural factors such as high rainfall," said Director of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Arif Maulana in his statement, Friday, February 12.

Arif also regretted that the government considered the high sea level as the main factor causing flooding. Arif considers this reason as a factor of government failure, both at the central and regional levels in understanding the flood problem.

"The government has neglected to evaluate the impact of policies and infrastructure development that are not comparable to the carrying capacity of the environment which has resulted in environmental damage," said Arif.

The government, said Arif, must be aware of the impact of policies that result in land subsidence, the shrinking of green open spaces that function as water infiltration, and a decrease in land level due to water privatization.

Arif urged the government to evaluate and fix the impact of policies and infrastructure development that are not comparable to the carrying capacity of the environment.

This is because there is environmental damage as the dominant factor causing flooding, such as the privatization of Jakarta's water, reclamation, and so on.

"LBH Jakarta reminds the government to seriously ensure that the flood disaster management in Jabodetabek runs and evaluate various development policies that have an impact on environmental damage," said Arif.

"This is to guarantee the fulfillment of the right to health and a healthy environment for the community, especially in the COVID-19 pandemic situation that threatens the safety of the community," he continued.

For example, in early February, the floods in Pejaten Timur, South Jakarta (Jaksel) lasted dozens of hours.

Deputy Governor of DKI, Ahmad Riza Patria, said that Anies' intention regarding the flood had to recede within 6 hours regarding inundation. Riza said there was a difference between flood and inundation.

"So, it must be distinguished that flooding is caused by inundation which is only a puddle or flood which is caused by a flash flood. The one in East Pejaten is a flood caused by the flow of water coming from Katulampa, which is from another area, a neighboring area entering Jakarta, "said Riza, Monday, February 8.

According to Riza, there is an increase in rainfall outside Jakarta so that the water level in the river increases.

"And indeed it occurs because it is on the edge of a river or riverbank and the area is low. Jakarta as the capital city is a lowland below sea level, so there are areas that happen to be flowed by rivers, overflowing so that they are inundated, "he continued.