Drainage Is Forced To Close, Dozens Of Residents In Lubang Buaya Claim Itching And Flooded

Residents of Lubang Buaya Village, East Jakarta, complained about floods and bad smell of water due to drainage being closed by land/ Photo owners; IST

JAKARTA - The drainage of connecting channels (PHB) in the residents of Jalan Damai, Gang Bahagia 1 and 2, RT 13/09, Lubang Buaya Village, Cipayung District, East Jakarta, overflowed due to forced closure by land owners who were crossed by waterways.

"The water channel began to close on August 27, 2024. The inundation began on August 27-31 has been inundated," said one resident with the initials H when confirmed by VOI, Monday, September 9.

As a result of the closure of the drainage of the waterways, about 50 houses were affected by the overflow of water that smelled bad. Ironically, the location of the clogged channel is around the Lubang Buaya Village office.

"Currently, the condition of the residents' settlements is still inundated. It is already inundated, those who are below, have entered residents' houses. Later they want to be temporarily sucked in. We ask for help extracting from the firefighters," he said.

In addition, the impact of the overflow of water also caused a number of residents to experience itching - itching disease and soil water belonging to residents was also polluted and unfit to drink.

"The water can't be used anymore and many residents are itching - itching. The water smells really bad," he said.

H regrets the unilateral closure of the drainage channel by the holder owner. In fact, according to him, the water channel has existed since the 1980s, while it was only 1998 that bought land.

"So it's only now closed (the water channel). (It is claimed to be the same as the land owner so that the channel flow is closed) Yes, that's right. So if we go to the location, we are reported to the police. Even though the cause of the inundation in this resident's house is because the water channel is forcibly closed by the same as the one who owns the land," he said.

Until now, residents hope that there will be a solution to the water channel problem from the East Jakarta City Government through the East Jakarta Water Resources Sub-Department (SDA).