TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has prepared 10 strategies to deal with possible floods in the capital since three months ago.
“Beginning from dredging rivers to reservoirs,” Jokowi said at the City Hall on Wednesday, October 9, 2013. The former Solo mayor said the city administration had expedited the dredging process as the rainy season neared.
He said the 10 strategies could only minimize flood impacts. To eliminate floods, he said, “Like the Rotterdam mayor said, it takes hundreds of years.”
Jakarta Public Works Agency chief Manggas Rudy Siahaan said the first step the city administration made to cope with floods was to dredge the capital’s 12 dams, including the West Tomang dam. Manggas said his personnel were still dredging mud around this area. He said his agency was also revitalizing canals and gutters at housing areas to absorb water.
“The city administration earmarked Rp500 billion to execute the 10 steps,” Manggas said, adding that the capital would be ready to face the rainy season by the end of the year.
SYAILENDRA
