As A Result Of The Water Channels Being Forced To Close Dozens Of Residents' Houses In Cipayung Flooded, Elderly And Toddlers Evacuated

Residents' houses in Cipayung were flooded due to the closure of unilateral drainage/ Photo: ISt

JAKARTA - Dozens of houses on Jalan Damai, RT 13/09, Lubang Buaya Village, Cipayung District, East Jakarta, were still flooded on Tuesday, September 10, evening.

The water level that inundated the residential area was getting deeper by about 50 cm because the water could not flow through the drainage.

The reason is, the drainage of waterways in the area has been forcibly closed. Moreover, the volume of water has increased due to the rain.

Linggom Lumban Toruan admitted that local residents are increasingly worried because it has entered the rainy season. They feel the threat of flooding at any time can haunt them.

"We have been suffering here for more than a week, since then the waterways have been evicted. We have land here for 40 years, suddenly there is a new certificate here. This is the land mafia. The government should not allow this, the people suffer," he told reporters, Tuesday, September 10.

As a result of the flood inundation, residents since 1 week ago have contracted dengue fever, cough and itching - itching because clean water from their wells is polluted by waste from the sewer puddle.

"We experience coughs, dirty well water, so everything has an impact. There has been no government effort. We hope that this water must be channeled, water pumps are not the main solution, so that residents are not restless," he said.

However, until now there has been no firm step from the East Jakarta City Government in dealing with the flood inundation.

"In fact, earlier there were several parents and toddlers who were evacuated from inside their houses which were hit by floods. They took action in all urban villages," he said.

Linggom assessed that this incident was a form of intimidation over the closure of the waterways unilaterally.

"This is a form of intimidation. All channels are dropped, 80 meters are taken down with former building debris," he said.

Previously, it was reported that 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 closures by land owners 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.