The Mayor Of Surabaya Will Order Citizens' Buildings That Cover Water Channels Until Floods Occur

Water Salura in the city of Surabaya/ Photo: Antara

Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi regretted the existence of a number of buildings belonging to residents covering waterways in the village, so that they could cause flooding and harm the people in the village.

"In the past, the sewer (channel) was 40 cm, now it is 20 cm, that makes floods because water is clogged and cannot flow. This flood is not the fault of the Surabaya City Government, but the fault of residents who do not protect their environment," said Cak Eri, quoted by Antara, Sunday, October 16.

Therefore, Cak Eri asked the sub-district, village head, RT/RW, Surabaya Water Resources and Highways Service (DSDABM) and the Surabaya Public Housing and Settlement Area (DPRKPP) Office to discuss and communicate with each other about the matter.

"I ask that everything be checked in the field. Check the building certificate, if the building advances and consumes the canal section, residents must resign. If they don't want to resign, they don't need to be built (the channel), we will order it and ask them to resign," he said.

Because, he said, channels and drains will not be able to function optimally when there are still houses built without adequate channels. If there are still problems, puddles appear in villages, plot houses and housing when the rainfall is high.

"I hope that every time a resident builds a house, such as on the plot land, at least 80 cm wide channel that is connected to other houses," he said.

However, said Cak Eri, the Surabaya City Government is committed to overcoming the flood problem in the City of Heroes. Currently, the Surabaya City Government is completing work at 55 channels and drain points which will be completed in November 2022.

For the process, it has reached 90 percent, because most of the channels and drains can already be used, it only remains to be tidied up and install the tong (channel cover).

"Because we have to connect between one channel and another. God willing, this can reduce inundation in the city of Surabaya. Places where there is usually a puddle, God willing, will decrease," said Cak Eri.