President Jokowi: Jakarta Flood Control Must be Comprehensive
President Jokowi inaugurates Ciliwung River Canal that flows to Eastern Flood Canal by Ciliwung River Canal Inlet in Jakarta, Monday (07/31). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Rahmat)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has urged stakeholders to control flood in Jakarta comprehensively from the upstream to the downstream.
The President made the statement during the inauguration of Ciliwung River Canal that flows to Eastern Flood Canal (KBT) by Ciliwung River Canal Inlet in Jakarta, Monday (07/31).
The canal construction is a part of the Government’s effort to overcome flood in Jakarta.
“Ciliwung Canal has been an issue for years, almost 11 years and today, thank God, it is finished. It can overcome [flood]. At least six urban villages will not be hit by floods anymore,” the President said while underscoring that flood control in Jakarta must be carried out comprehensively.
Before the inauguration of this canal, the President has inaugurated Ciawi Dam and Sukamahi Dam in Bogor regency at the end of 2022.
“The completion of Ciliwung Canal construction also overcomes Jakarta floods. Ciawi and Sukamahi Dams, Ciliwung Canal, and normalization of Ciliwung Eastern Flood Canal can only solve approximately 62 percent of the flood problem in Jakarta. It means that we still need to work on the 38 percent,” he said.
According to the President, it is not easy to control flood in Jakarta because in addition to Ciliwung River, there are 12 other rivers that need to be handled well, namely Sunter River, Cipinang River, West Baru River, East Baru River, Mookervaart River, and Pesanggrahan River.
The President further said that tidal floods may also occur in Jakarta, thus he ordered all related parties to cooperate to overcome the floods.
“Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing and Provincial Government of Special Capital Region of Jakarta must work on it together. Once again, Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing and Provincial Government of Special Capital Region of Jakarta must join hands, work together. This is a very complex and difficult problem,” he remarked. (TGH/UN) (DH/MMB)
