Lenny Tristia Tambun Jakarta Globe 4 Nov 15;
Jakarta. Deputy Governor of Jakarta Djarot Saiful Hidayat has said the capital is ready for potential floods in December as the dry season begins to break.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has predicted Jakarta will likely welcome the wet season next month, prompting preparations for seasonal flooding from the city government.
Monday night's long-awaited heavy rain provided an opportunity for officials to map spots in the city with the potential to flood. These areas will be the focus of repairs to roads and water channels.
“It becomes a very challenging task when it comes to managing the water channels in crowded areas. We also have dredged sediments lying on the bottom of the water channels, rivers, reservoirs and ponds,” Djarot said on Wednesday.
Water pumps around the west and eastern flood canals are also under repair, allowing for easier flow of floodwater out of the city.
“We are doing our best to make sure that destructive floods, like last year's, will not take place again,” Djarot said.
Meanwhile, Tri Djoko Sri Margianto, head of Jakarta's Water Management Agency, has said that sediment dredging will continue until March next year in anticipation of an extended wet season.
“The [Environment and Forestry] Ministry as well as some contractors will help Jakarta's Water Management Agency in the dredging process,” Tri said.
