Doubtful DKI Pemprov Flood Management Program And Needs Evaluation

Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan. (Photo: DKI Jakarta Provincial Government Public Relations)

JAKARTA - Floods at the end of last week in DKI have receded. The DKI DPRD also summoned the DKI Provincial Government to discuss problems and future flood management programs.

During the meeting, the Head of DKI Jakarta Water Resources Agency, Juaini Yusuf, said that his party has a target of building 300 thousand vertical drainages or infiltration wells starting in 2021 until the term of office of DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan ends in 2022.

"For 2021 to 2022, our plan is only 300 thousand points with a budget of IDR 400 billion, which we will start this year", said Juaini at the DPRD DKI Building, Central Jakarta, Monday, February 22.

The construction of this infiltration well is included in one of the flood control programs in Jakarta. Other programs include Gerebek Lumpur, pump maintenance, tidal flood management, and polder system management.

So far, the construction of infiltration wells has mostly been in the offices of the DKI Provincial Government, the Regional Work Units (SKPD), to public spaces such as parks and RPTRA (Children-Friendly Integrated Public Space).

The presence of infiltration wells is very effective in preventing flooding. "There are several cases in locations where inundation often occurs because there is an infiltration well, the water is lost and it runs to the infiltration well", said Juaini.

However, in the past year, the construction of infiltration wells did not meet the target. As of December 31, 2020, there have been 2,974 vertical drainage points in 777 locations, such as in RPTRA, Regional Government Buildings, Schools, City Parks, and Mosques. Infiltration wells made until the end of 2020 have not reached the target of 5,000 points.

Then, in 2021 and 2022, the target can be met multiple times? Juaini still said he was optimistic.

Because, last year, the construction of infiltration wells was hampered by vendor problems. There are still many vendors who do not want to look at the infiltration well construction program. Therefore, Juaini will open many new vendors.

"Yesterday, why was it slow? Because there were only two vendors. Now, the vendors are processing 100 vendors. We hope that with the many vendors, there will be a lot of work. So, we can run our program quickly," said Juaini.

Chairman of Commission D DPRD DKI Ida Mahampang doubts the effectiveness of the infiltration well construction that has been made in DKI. Because, if the program is effective, then flooding will not occur.

"The South Jakarta Water Resources Sub-dept. Forgives us that infiltration wells are effective. But, they should be effective if there is no flood. Well, if it is effective but floods are just a lie", said Ida.

In fact, the budget for making absorption wells in the 2021 DKI regional development and expenditure budget (APBD) has reached IDR 400 billion.

Because of that, Ida considered that there was a need for an evaluation of flood management, considering that a number of points in Jakarta were inundated by floods and have been in the spotlight in recent days.

"We have to evaluate what caused the flooding which we need to do next year. I hope that after this meeting there will be an evaluation conducted by the Provincial Government regarding reducing those in DKI", said Ida.

The evaluation needs to be studied in depth. As is the case, the flood has inundated most areas in Kemang, South Jakarta. Commission D hopes that there will be a more optimal flood control solution in DKI Jakarta as a whole.

"In Kemang yesterday there was a complaint about a big flood, it turns out that there were two points that were conveyed that a fence was broken. Why did this happen and whether the SDA fence must be made later so that it does not collapse again, and these things must be conveyed and resolved or not, "she explained.