News Focus: DELUGES RETURN WHILE FLOOD CANAL YET COMPLETED By Bustanuddin

Jakarta, Jan 10 (ANTARA) - Only several days after welcoming the
new year 2010, people in many regions, especially in flood-
prone areas, have become depressed by the misery they have to suffer again from massive floods.

In Riau province, for instance, floods have inundated
at least 13,236 houses in four districts after local rivers overflowed as a consequence of incessant heavy rains over the past few days.

The floods invaded among others 5,661 homes in Indragiri Hulu, 3,552 in Pelalawan, 2,950 in Kampar, and 1,050 in Rokan
Hulu districts.

"As many as 56 villages in nine subdistricts in Indragiri Hulu
district were the worst hit as the flood waters there reached heights of up to two meters," Head of the Riau Social Affairs Agency Raja Lukman Mat said recently, adding that his office had sent assistance to a number of flood-affected areas.

The relief assistance comprised foodstuffs and drinking water as
well as rice, instant noodle, canned food, kerosene and emergency
tents for the flood victims.

In addition, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare, Agung
Laksono extended Rp1 billion worth of assistance for flood victims
in Riau province on Friday (Jan 8).

Laksono symbolically handed over the assistance to Riau Governor Rusli Zainal at the opening of the Orphanage Jamboree in
Pekanbaru, Riau, on Friday.

The minister requested that local government heads make an evaluation of the situation and find solutions to the reccurring floods.

"Regional governments should ask themselves why the floods happen again and again," he said, adding that the floods were very burdensome for the people, especially for those who every year are
affected by the floods.

Apart from that, floods inundated around 2,089 houses in Tebo
District, Jambi province, on Thursday following incessant rains
during the past week.

"Tabir sub district was the worst hit by the flood," RM Ali, head
of the Tebo manpower and transmigration office, said here on
Thursday.

Some 50 hectares of farming area were also submerged by the flood
waters.

In Tabir sub district, five villages were affected by the floods.

In Embacang Gedang village, some 358 houses were inundated, in
Pintas Tuo village around 388 houses, in Bangko Pintas village 87
houses and in Tanah Garo village 890 houses.

"According to latest data, some 1,723 houses in five villages
have been affected," Ali said.

In Serai Serumpun sub district, some 150 houses were flooded, and
in Pagar Puding Lama village, around 50 hectares of farming area
were inundated.

The flood waters also hit several other villages along the
Batanghari river banks like those in Muara Tabir and Tebo Ulu
subdistricts.

"The surface of Batanghari river had already risen in the past
three days," said Samsir, a Puntikalo villager when asked in
Muaratebo, capital of Tebo regency.

He said hundreds of villagers sought higher grounds where the
flood water cannot reach.

Samsir said that besides houses, three school buildings were also
hit by the flood waters, and had to be closed. The schools
included MIS Negeri Punti Kalo, SD 105 in Lebak Bungur village
and MIS in Teluk Singkawan.

In addition, at least 30 houses and 20 fish ponds were inundated
by a flash flood at Cilaban Bulan village, Menes sub district,
Pandeglang District, Banten Province, on Wednesday.

"The flash flood did not claim any life as local residents were
quick in evacuating themselves to safer areas," Ade Supriyadi,
Cilaban Bulan village head, Menes sub district, said.

Heavy rain that had been falling in the village since 04 am local
time and caused the Cilampuyang and Cigarugak rivers to overflow,
he said.

The flood waters reaching a height of up to 1.3 meter submerged
30 houses and 20 fish ponds.

Floods triggered by days of heavy rains inundated hundreds of
homes at Jati Wetan village in Kudus district, Central Java, on
Friday.

"The number of flooded homes at Jati Wetan village is about 500.

The height of the flood waters varies between 40 cm and 50 cm," a
local resident, Yusuf said.

In the meantime, Climatology Meteorology and Geophysics (BMKG)
predicted that weather in Bogor district, West Java province in
January was classified as normal.

"While in mid and late of January rainfall is high enough,"
Alidia of the BMKG told Antara on Thursday.

Alidia said further that such condition caused by the low air
humidity in Asia, while in the Australian region is high.

In the meantime on Wednesday, Vice President Boediono observed
Jakarta`s East Flood Canal from a helicopter to obtain a personal
impression of the progress achieved in the ongoing project.

During the aerial inspection, the vice president was accompanied
by Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo and the head of the
Ciliwung-Cisadane River Basins Authority, Pitoyo Soebandrio.

Public Works Minister Joko Kirmanto told the press at the vice
presidential palace, work on the East Flood Canal which was
intended to alleviate flooding in North and East Jakarta, had
reached the Jakarta Bay coastline on December 31, 2009.

"The point is that when it rains, the East Flood Canal is already
functioning, although not yet 100 percent," the minister said.

According to Pitoyo Soebandrio, the East Flood Canal project was
now 97 percent completed.

"As it is, the contractors will continue to work until June 2010.

So, the worst possibility is that the East Flood Canal will be
finished in June. But it could also be finished in March," he
said.

When fully operational, the East Flood Canal will prevent
flooding in at least 13 neighborhoods in North and East Jakarta,
he said.

The 23-km-long canal cuts through seven river flows, namely
the Cipinang, Sunter, Buaran, Cakung, and Jati Kramat rivers.

The East Flood Canal project is part of an ambitious flood
control master plan for Jakarta that was drawn up in 1973. The
project was postponed many times due to lack of funding, land
procurement problems and other obstacles.

Between 2001 and 2003, the city administration finally resumed
the Rp 4.9 trillion ($519 million) East Flood Canal project.

Jakarta suffers from annual flooding. In 2003 and 2007, the
floods had disastrous consquences as they killed dozens of people
and displaced hundreds of thousands. The city suffered material
losses totaling more than $1 billion.

The canal is designed to contain 390 cubic meters of water per
second, enough to avert flooding for at least 100 years in
previously flood-prone areas.

(B003/A/HAJM/21:25/H-YH)