Jakarta Better Prepared To Face Flood Threat This Year

Jakarta, Oct 28 (Antara) - The city is ready to face the flood threat during this year`s rainy season, which falls between September and March, stated Acting Governor of Jakarta Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, or popularly known as Ahok. "We are better prepared now as compared to the previous years. I have ordered the head of sub-districts in Jakarta province to dredge the river basin (in order to ease the flow of water to the sea)," noted Ahok. Moreover, Jakarta`s Public Works Office has reinforced the existing dams while also deploying several water pumps, especially in areas prone to be firstly struck by the floods, such as North Jakarta. However, Ahok explained that they faced challenges in relocating the people illegally living along the river banks. He said the government had tried to relocate the people by building low-cost apartments across various areas in Jakarta. However, the construction work had yet to be completed. Last year, Jakarta suffered material losses amounting to Rp20 trillion or US$2 billion as a result of the floods that have inundated the capital since January.