REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Jakarta governor Joko Widodo, alias Jokowi, would return the upstream area of Ciliwung river in Puncak, Bogor, West Java, to its natural habitat as a water catchment area to prevent flooding in Jakarta.
"The flood water has indeed come here (Jakarta) from above (the upstream area of Ciliwung river). That is what has to be overcome. The root problem is there," he said at City Hall here on Monday.
He also said the planned construction of a channel to divert the Ciliwung river water to Cisadane river was not a short-term solution to ease flooding in Jakarta.
"No program to overcome such a huge water problem will be short-term. The short-term programs are proposals such as evacuation, logistics distribution and others," he said.
He added that the development of infiltration wells in Jakarta would also help reduce water pools when rain falls.
Jokowi noted that the Jakarta city administration has been able to reduce the number of flood centers along several roads in the city's five districts by 41 to 54 percent, from a total of 75 flood centers.
Regarding land acquisition for the planned development of dams in Ciawi and Sukamahi in Bogor, West Java, Jokowi said that the West Java provincial administration strongly supported the plan.
"They support it. All support it. They have all put their signatures on it. They signed the agreement just now. I, indeed, wanted to meet at where the source of the flood water comes so that the problem could be solved quickly. So we no longer talk about plans," he said.
He added that land acquisition for the development of the two dams would be paid by Jakarta and would begin soon after the Jakarta regional budget was agreed upon by the regional legislative assembly.
"Soon after the budget is agreed upon, it will then be disbursed. There is no need to change the budget. It will later be increased through the 2015 budget plan," Jokowi said.
The Jakarta governor met with the governor of West Java, as well as district heads of Jakarta's surrounding districts of Bogor, Depok, Tangerang Bekasi and Cianjur to discuss solutions to the flood problem in Jakarta.
Incessant rains in the past few days, as well as overflows from the rivers passing through the capital city, including the Ciliwung, have placed many parts of the capital city under water, causing disruptions to businesses and public activities.
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