Flood monitored by Prabowo, Pramono said Jakarta is responsible for weather modification operations in Jabodetabek

DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung after a limited meeting discussing flood handling at the DKI Jakarta City Hall, Friday, January 23. (Diah-VOI)

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung stated that the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government will bear the cost of implementing weather modification operations (OMC) not only for the Jakarta area, but also for the buffer areas in Jabodetabek.

The policy was taken when extreme weather that still has the potential to trigger flooding in the capital and surrounding areas began to be highlighted by President Prabowo Subianto.

Pramono said that a number of regions did not have a special budget for OMC so that Jakarta would contribute to its implementation. The DKI Provincial Government is also working with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) in the implementation of weather modification.

"Maybe other areas the cost for OMC is definitely not there so that Jakarta will definitely contribute to it," said Pramono after a limited meeting discussing flood handling at the DKI Jakarta City Hall, Friday, January 23.

He explained, there is a division of roles between the central and regional governments. for the Jabodetabek area, the implementation of OMC and its costs are borne by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government. For other areas, it is borne by the central government.

"So some areas handled by the Central Disaster Management Agency are those who do it, but for Jabodetabek for OMC and so on we do it. So what the President's instructions for Jakarta are, we will definitely carry them out," said Pramono.

Pramono also responded to the statement of the Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi who said that President Prabowo Subianto was directly monitoring the flood conditions in Jakarta. According to Pramono, the order had been conveyed directly to him through a number of ministers.

"We are grateful for the direction of the President and through Mr. Mensesneg, it has indeed been conveyed to me directly by several ministers and we will work together for that," he said.

As extreme weather still occurs, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recommends extending the OMC. Initially, the operation was scheduled to end on January 23, but was extended until January 27.

"Indeed, extreme weather is currently happening and BMKG itself has conveyed to the DKI Jakarta Government for Weather Modification Operations, which we will initially only do until the 23rd, then we will extend it until the 27th," explained Pramono.

Pramono said, based on the report of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the implementation of OMC is now being carried out intensively with weather modification aircraft flights every day. The budget has also been prepared to ensure that operations run without obstacles.

"Now every day we have flown three, which means that the weather modification is being carried out because the budget is available, even the budget we provide up to 30 days ahead so that there are no obstacles or handicaps to that," he said.

Beyond the extreme weather factor, Pramono alluded to Jakarta's internal problems, which also exacerbated the risk of flooding. He assessed that there were still many violations, ranging from indiscriminate waste disposal to development on the banks of rivers.

He admitted that flood handling could not be resolved in a short time. The DKI Provincial Government is preparing short-, medium-, and long-term steps, ranging from river dredging and OMC to the issuance of location determination (penlok) for river normalization.

"Actually, in my current government, I have started to normalize Ciliwung, which has never been done before, the normalization of Krukut, which has not been done, the normalization of the old Cakung river, which I have decided. It was not done before," he added.

Previously, the Minister of State Secretary (Menseseg) Prasetyo Hadi admitted that he was concerned about the condition of Jakarta which was flooded and flooded in several areas, following the high rainfall in recent times.

Prasetyo Hadi also apologized to the public affected by the flood and waterlogged in Jakarta. According to Prasetyo Hadi, President Prabowo also monitored the condition of Jakarta during a working visit to the United Kingdom and Switzerland.

President Prabowo, according to Prasetyo, also ordered the relevant parties to form a study team to analyze and make a comprehensive draft for resolving problems related to water management, especially on the island of Java.

The government has added weather modification operations in the Jabodetabek area following heavy rainfall that triggered flooding on a number of roads in the capital. The President continues to monitor the flood situation even though he is abroad.

"The rainfall is very high and this enters the peak of the rainy season until the end of January based on BMKG data," Prasetyo told reporters at the Presidential Palace complex, Thursday, January 22.

Prasetyo emphasized that the President gave direct instructions for the handling to be carried out quickly, including the formation of a national study team for water management from upstream to downstream on the island of Java.