Jakarta Is Considered To Still Be Subject To Large Floods

Illustrated (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Urban planning observer from Trisakti University, Nirwono Joga, assessed that Jakarta could experience major floods, as happened several years ago.

Floods occur when the areas of Jakarta as well as Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi, also experience the same rain. As a result, DKI has received water from the upstream. Not to mention, if there is a tidal flood.

"If the entire area of DKI rains heavily and the north coast of Jakarta has high tides, then we can be sure that Jakarta will be paralyzed due to large floods such as what happened in 1996, 2002, 2007, 2013 and 2017," said Nirwono to reporters, Tuesday, 16 February.

Reflecting on early February, there was a flood of deliveries, in which Depok and Bogor experienced heavy rains. Thus, the water flowing into the Ciliwung River overflowed and inundated the settlements along the riverbanks.

"This means that this proves that the DKI Pemprov has carried out the prevention and arrangement of the Ciliwung river which is a frequent flood," he said.

Currently, there is a plan to improve four times the priorities that have been agreed between the DKI Provincial Government and the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing. These times are Ciliwung, Pesanggrahan, Angke, and Sunter.

"Unfortunately, Pak Anies does not want to continue. It could be that until 2022 it will not be done. So, the Governor of DKI does not carry out his homework properly," said Nirwono.

Previously, DKI Jakarta Deputy Governor Riza Patria claimed that various efforts to anticipate floods were quite successful. The proof is that there was no severe inundation even though the Capital City continued to experience heavy rain.

"We are grateful that until the 13th, at least DKI can still control the prevention and handling of flood control, there will be no significant flooding, which is extraordinary. If there is rain, puddles, it will recede in a matter of hours," said Riza.

A number of efforts have been made to prevent flooding, including normalization and naturalization of rivers. That way, the water can recede quickly even though it has stagnated.

"Apart from normalizing, naturalizing, then pumping, making polders and mud dredging, dredging river reservoirs, ponds, making sodetan, processing, this turns out to be Alhamdulillah helping us all reduce flooding and the speed with which puddles fall," he explained.